Yuki Tsunoda says Christian Horner prioritising Max Verstappen's upgrades "made [his] season particularly difficult". Betting angle: favour Verstappen for race wins and title markets, avoid Tsunoda in outright/futures; consider hedging with mid-field points props or Sprint-result bets where parity may briefly tighten.
Tsunoda slams Horner as Red Bull upgrade split costs his 2025 campaign
Yuki Tsunoda has publicly blamed a pivotal team decision for a season he describes as "particularly difficult", accusing former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of concentrating the best upgrades on Max Verstappen's car. The move, Tsunoda says, left him with a package that hampered his ability to demonstrate pace and value across a tightly contested championship.
Statistics expose the gap: Verstappen versus Tsunoda
Across 22 rounds (including five Sprint events) after reclaiming a race seat, Tsunoda scored just 33 points and finished 17th in the drivers' standings — behind Red Bull junior drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. By contrast Verstappen won eight Grands Prix and pushed for the title, finishing two points shy of champion Lando Norris. Track and upgrade differences, Tsunoda argues, translated into tenths per lap that turned into several finishing positions.
How development focus shaped results — Horner then Mekies
Under Horner, Red Bull concentrated development resources on the team's best title hope, Verstappen, leaving the second car on a different trajectory. That strategy shifted when Laurent Mekies took over as team principal and sought greater parity in parts distribution. The recalibration delivered short-term dividends for Tsunoda, with a sixth place in Azerbaijan and points-scoring efforts in Austin's Sprint and Grand Prix, but did not close the performance gap consistently.
End of the road at Red Bull and the 2026 reshuffle
Tsunoda has been informed he will not have a place on the 2026 grid after Red Bull promoted Isack Hadjar to the senior team and signed teenager Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls. The decision cements a fresh driver line-up and ends Tsunoda's latest shot at proving himself inside Red Bull's factory structure.
Tsunoda on the season
"I think it was the tightest season in the history of F1. Differences of less than one-tenth of a second can change two or three positions, so the difference in updates can have a big impact. Even a difference of two or three tenths of a second from Max can mean a difference of five to seven places in the rankings, which makes a huge difference in how the results are perceived. Giving feedback and demonstrating my own value was particularly difficult."
Betting implications and market moves
This inside-team revelation has clear betting implications. Expect markets to remain skewed toward Verstappen for race wins and championship markets given the historical and ongoing development bias. Tsunoda's value in outright or season-long futures is now weak; punters should avoid backing him for championships. More tactical options: - Target Verstappen in win-and-podium markets where Red Bull upgrades historically pay off. - Use Tsunoda only for specific props (Sprint points, occasional top-10) where parity or race incidents can create value. - Consider mid-field drivers and junior-team racers for longer odds in points and podium props if Red Bull’s internal balance remains contested. - Monitor team news before placing in-race and Sprint markets—late upgrades or strategic parity moves can shift short-term odds significantly.
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Yuki Tsunoda has pointed the finger after losing his place on the Formula 1 grid.
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