Max Verstappen gives cryptic answer when asked about Yuki Tsunoda's disastrous Spanish GP qualifying

Max Verstappen delivered a cryptic response when asked about Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda's dismal qualifying.

On Saturday afternoon, the qualifying sessions ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix took place around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

McLaren star Oscar Piastri produced a stunning lap to seal pole position ahead of teammate Lando Norris and reigning Formula 1 world champion Verstappen.

However, it was an afternoon to forget for Verstappen's teammate Tsunoda, who only managed to qualify in P20, nearly two seconds off the Dutchman.

Speaking on his team radio, Tsunoda surprisingly said that his lap felt good, he said: "Wow... honestly. I mean, that was a pretty clean lap. Yep."

The 25-year-old said after the session: "Whatever we made in terms of set-up changes it was always kind of a cluster of feelings and it’s just not giving an overall step forward. It’s very strange.

"There just isn’t a feeling. So far what I feel is just the car is eating its tyres a lot and every lap, whatever I do, I have degradation."

After qualifying was over, Verstappen was asked about Tsunoda's session.

As reported by De Telegraaf journalist Erik van Haren, Verstappen said: "Yuki isn't a pancake. This [with the 2nd Red Bull driver] has been going on for a long time. Maybe that's a sign. Of what? That you can decide yourself."

Speaking about his own qualifying, the Dutchman said: "We were lacking all weekend compared to them [McLaren]. We executed well.

"Third is where we more or less should be. It's fun. Around here it's about squeezing everything out of the car."

He continued: "I will try my best but they will be tough to beat."

🗣️| Yuki Tsunoda after Quali: "From Fp1 I have some strange issue, juse not gripping at all. I mean we tried our best to solve the issue. It's very shame. In FP2 the long runs was really bad it just the same feeling." #YT22 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/A3gVwL6Ej4

— Hawk (@Hawk9248) May 31, 2025

Ever since replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull, Tsunoda has only managed to collect four Grand Prix points.

Earlier in the month, the Japanese star was involved in a huge crash during the first qualifying session at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.

Tsunoda flipped his car and collided with the barriers after losing control of his Red Bull heading into Turn 5.

Thankfully, the 25-year-old appeared to be fine as he walked away from the accident before being sent to the medical centre for checks.