Yuki Tsunoda. Photo: RacePictures.

Mekies issues ‘mega important' Tsunoda plea that could determine the title fight

17:16, 01 Dec

Updated: 17:56, 01 Dec

byDrew Murphy

With the Formula 1 world championship coming down to the wire, Red Bull boss, Laurent Mekies, has urged the importance of having Yuki Tsunoda near the top of the pack to help Max Verstappen.

After claiming victory in Qatar, Verstappen is now just 12 points off Lando Norris with one final race to go in the 2025 F1 season.

If Verstappen wins in Abu Dhabi, he will need Norris to finish fifth or lower.

This, therefore, will be made easier for the Dutchman if his teammate, Tsunoda, can help out and finish near the top of the grid.

Yuki Tsunoda. Photo: RacePictures

The importance of Tsunoda in Abu Dhabi

Mekies acknowledged the importance of having Tsunoda in the mix to help Verstappen.

He said: “It is mega important. As you know, it could be done to the last point. It could be mega important.

“You have seen today, you know, Lando [Norris] fall back into the pack. He could have fallen back in the middle of the pack.

“He fell back with Kimi [Antonelli] and Carlos [Sainz], but it was very close to falling back with Fernando and the other guys, where Yuki potentially was.

“So it will be super important to have Yuki at 100%. He has done a strong weekend this weekend with us.

“Strong on Friday, strong in the sprint, P5, I think it's his best result with us this season.

“And yes, he got kicked out of Q1, but that was only three-tenths of Max, and there are a lot of guys that would be happy to be three-tenths of Max in qualifying.

“So he has done a strong weekend, we need another strong weekend in Abu Dhabi, as you said, because everything will be needed.”

Why it is a tough ask

Asking for help from Tsunoda may be easier said than done, as the Japanese driver has struggled to make an impact for Red Bull since he was sworn in to replace Liam Lawson at the start of the season.

In Qatar, Tsunoda scored his first points since the Austin Grand Prix in October, finishing 10th.

His highest finish this season came in Baku, where he finished P6, and he has only finished in the top-10 six times this season, so it appears to be a tough ask in Abu Dhabi.

Tsunoda even sits 15th in the Drivers' standings, five points behind Lawson of Racing Bulls.

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