'I'll try to support Max as much as possible' – Tsunoda offers help to Verstappen in title battle

Yuki Tsunoda has vowed to help Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen "as much as possible" in his quest for a fifth Drivers' title, beginning this weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The Japanese driver enters the penultimate round of the season, which includes the final Sprint of the year, after a difficult campaign having been promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull after two rounds.

Across the 20 Grands Prix since, Tsunoda has only reached the points on six occasions, the most recent coming four weekends ago in Austin.

In contrast, Verstappen has won four of the last eight races and brought himself within 24 points of Lando Norris in the title race, prompting questions from the media on what Tsunoda could do to help the Dutchman.

"Try to be up there, [as] close to Max as possible. I guess naturally that will be top-five," said Tsunoda.

"Being close to him means naturally closer to McLaren, hopefully be able to start ahead of them in the race and hopefully I can do something in the strategy.

"That's the main thing I'm trying to achieve and I think that will also naturally be a good thing for me, positive. That's what I'm targeting for."

Tsunoda's future in Formula 1 has been put under scrutiny, with the second Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen and both spots at Racing Bulls the only seats still to be confirmed for the 2026 season.

Tsunoda stated no decision had been made and that helping Verstappen as much as possible over the final two rounds would naturally help his chances of staying on the grid next season.

"I'm only thinking about this race. The decision is not made yet," he said,

"It's still in my hands and I'll try to support Max as much as possible and I think if I'm able to achieve that, that will naturally be positive for my future. I will aim for that and see for the decisions."

Tsunoda had shown encouraging pace in practice ahead of the Las Vegas GP, but a tyre issue in a wet Qualifying ultimately meant he failed to progress before opting to start from the pits in the race.

"We knew straight after Qualifying what happened," he added.

"Like Laurent [Mekies, Team Principal] said, it's a tyre pressure thing but something that I can't accept to be honest. That thing was pretty big, but it just happens. I can't change it. After I heard I was pretty surprised."