Rosberg Rips Red Bull: Why Is Verstappen SO Much Faster Than Tsunoda?
Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, has launched a scathing critique of Red Bull Racing, questioning the vast performance gap between Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda. Verstappen secured pole position at the Italian Grand Prix with a record-breaking lap, while Tsunoda finished tenth, more than seven-tenths of a second slower.
Rosberg's Unwavering Criticism
Rosberg described the difference as "inexplicable" and criticized Red Bull's apparent inability to address the issue. He highlighted the team's long-standing struggle with their second driver, citing the failures of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Liam Lawson before Tsunoda. Even Sergio Perez, initially a strong performer, eventually suffered a similar decline alongside Verstappen.
"This has been years now, and once again, Yuki is more than seven tenths behind Max Verstappen," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1. "That's inexplicable. I don't understand because Yuki is a great... he knows how to drive a racing car. How is it possible he's just so far behind once again? It's crazy that they can't find a solution to that."
Equipment Disparity?
While Tsunoda may not have the exact same specification of RB21 as Verstappen, Rosberg believes the difference shouldn't account for such a significant time gap. "I'm hearing that his car is not 100% the same as Max Verstappen's, but it's not seven tenths. Maybe it's a tenth or something."
Tsunoda himself cited differences in floor specifications between his car and Verstappen's as a contributing factor. He compared it to an earlier situation where he and Verstappen ran different floor specs until Belgium, only receiving the same upgrades in Hungary. He also mentioned leading the pack in Q3 negatively impacted his lap time due to the lack of a tow.
Rosberg concluded, "Yeah, poor. I feel for Yuki, because this is, again, a really, really tough day."
The ongoing performance disparity at Red Bull raises serious questions about the team's ability to support both drivers effectively. While Verstappen's dominance is undeniable, the struggles of his teammates suggest a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.