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Nico Rosberg reveals what he heard was Yuki Tsunoda’s key Red Bull issue, now different under Laurent Mekies

Originally posted on HITC | By Shay Rogers | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 12:32 PM ET

Yuki Tsunoda showed signs of a turnaround at the Belgian Grand Prix, helped by some of Red Bull’s latest upgrades.

The Japanese driver qualified seventh, just four tenths behind teammate Max Verstappen, marking his strongest one-lap showing of the season.

Having fallen as low as 17th in the drivers’ standings earlier this year, it would have been easy for Red Bull to start looking past him.

But Tsunoda has kept his head down and worked through it, and now he may be starting to see some rewards for his persistence. The arrival of new team principal Laurent Mekies could also work in his favour compared to Christian Horner’s approach.

The 25-year-old driver said he felt encouraged by Mekies’ reaction during the race weekend, noting how the team boss smiled at his progress. It’s clear that the French engineer is behind him.

Nico Rosberg says Yuki Tsunoda no longer feels isolated at Red Bull under Laurent Mekies

Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images

Mekies is seen as the ‘perfect fit’ for Red Bull, especially given his understanding of drivers, and it’s an area he could use to his advantage going forward.

With nearly 25 years of experience, including the last two seasons spent managing the junior Racing Bulls team, he has also built a strong relationship with Tsunoda.

It’s those early foundations that Nico Rosberg believes are helping Tsunoda feel more connected within the Red Bull environment.

“He has now really empowered Yuki Tsunoda this weekend. He has given him the new upgrade so that he can have the new floor himself as well, not just Verstappen,” the former F1 driver said on Sky Sports F1’s broadcast.

“He gives him a thumbs up and a smile after sessions. After qualifying, they connected as Yuki was driving in. He saw Laurent on the pit wall giving him a big smile and a thumbs-up. That makes a huge difference to a driver when suddenly they see they have support from the team.

“Whereas before, he said, I heard that he felt like he was on a bit of an island on his own in a team that was for Max Verstappen and only cared about Max Verstappen. Now Laurent straight away is also caring about Yuki.”

Does Yuki Tsunoda have a future with Red Bull beyond 2026?

Tsunoda’s uneven form this season hasn’t done him any favours, especially with the 2026 regulation changes on the horizon. Although Mekies’ arrival might buy him a little more time, a lack of clear progress could still see him sidelined before the new era begins.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has already taken what’s been described as a ‘very intense’ step with the new CEO, as the pair look for ways to tighten up the team’s overall structure.

Red Bull know that if they want to mount another title challenge, they can’t afford to have only one car consistently in the mix.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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