Is Tsunoda already broken? Why the qualification in Bahrain is already so important

The advisors of Yuki Tsunoda would have had to mentally pep up the Japanese after the first day in Bahrain. Is the colleague of Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing on the brink of breaking?

When Yuki Tsunoda stepped out of his Red Bull car on Friday and looked at the classification, he saw his name almost at the bottom. The Japanese driver finished eighteenth, well behind the front of the field and also his teammate Max Verstappen. So it seems history is cautiously repeating itself; another driver drowning next to Verstappen.

Of course, it's only the second weekend since Tsunoda took his place in the RB21. But don't forget, Liam Lawson was sent away after two weekends by the ruthless Red Bull. In Tsunoda's case, it will probably not be as severe - after all, there aren't any other options - but it is still a cause for concern. Red Bull cannot afford another driver breaking under pressure.

Tsunoda received a mental boost

Perhaps the reader of this story is thinking: What is the writer concerned about? After all, Tsunoda is a tough guy, who is praised for his mental strength. That was indeed always the case. However, after the difficult opening day in Bahrain, stories appeared in the Japanese media that Tsunoda had a mental setback and that manager Diego Menchaca and personal trainer John Noonan in the Middle East helped him 'get back in mental shape'.

Undoubtedly, they succeeded, because as mentioned, it's only the second race weekend at Red Bull. Therefore, Tsunoda's qualification later on this Saturday in Bahrain is all the more important. The limitations of the RB21 are known, but Tsunoda will be keen to at least get close to Verstappen. Another place at the back of the field, possibly with a significant gap to his teammate, could mean that Tsunoda's team must work overtime again.

Furthermore, history has shown that a driver who loses confidence and falls into the vicious circle of negativity can quickly decline. Just ask Sergio Perez, he knows all about it. Tsunoda wants to avoid that at all costs, as he aims to be the successful man next to Verstappen for Red Bull.