Red Bull Racing Formula 1 pilot, Yuki Tsunoda, received a last minute upgrade on his RB21 F1 car before the Belgian qualification session of the Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. New Red Bull team director Laurent Mekies I appealed to stimulate the performance and trust of Tsunoda, who became obvious with his Q3 result.
Tsunoda obtained its best qualification finish since its promotion of Red Bull in March, obtaining a P7 departure for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner after the last race in Silverstone, noticed that Tsunoda still directed the old floor, while his teammate Max Verstappen directed the last upgrade of the RB21.
Due to the limited number of improved floors available with Red Bull, they were kept in reserve for Verstappen, in case his car has undergone ground damage. However, Mekies chose to run the spare part on Tsunoda’s car, offering it a much necessary performance gain. Although Tsunoda’s RB21 does not have the front wing improved as a Verstappen, the new floor made a significant difference in the qualifications. Addressing F1 TV, Mekies said:
“For Yuki, it was a very, very good step forward throughout the weekend, so it’s good to see him in Q3. To finish there, I am sure that I will give him a good boost of confidence. We have upgraded his car just before we qualify because we always push to the quantity of parts of games, but we decided to take the risk to increase his car.
Yuki Tsunoda from Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by the director of the RB team of Visa RB Laurent Mekies in the Paddock during training / Sprint qualifying before the F1 Grand Prix of Miami in Miami International Autodrome on May 2, 2025 in Miami, in the United States.
Kym Illman / Getty images
“This is why you may have seen that we were a little late to go out in qualification, but it was worth everyone. And that certainly helped support its performance to reach a very, very good level.”
Tsunoda worked closely with Mekies at Racing Bulls before being moved to Red Bull. Expressing his satisfaction with the upgrade, which now gives him the confidence necessary to push his car, the Japanese driver said:
“Given the difference that I have always had in terms of laptop delta, between Max and myself, it’s huge.
“So I knew in myself and in my engineering group, that we are in the right direction, myself to improve the way we want to approve it.
“But yes, generally, a little more grip. The previous one was more sensitive, easier to slip. With this one, you can be aggressive, I would say.”
Tsunoda admitted that seeing the Mekies in the Garage Red Bull increase his level of confidence. He said:
“Seeing Laurent at the end of the qualifications gave me flashbacks of when we worked together at Racing Bulls.
“He smiled directly as soon as I stopped today and it really strengthened my confidence.”