Marko: Tsunoda closest yet to Verstappen

Yuki Tsunoda is the first teammate capable of approaching Max Verstappen's performance level, according to Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko.

The Japanese driver has been accumulating points since his promotion to the senior team in Round 3 at his home race in Japan.

Following Liam Lawson's difficult stint with Red Bull that saw him return to Racing Bulls, Tsunoda made the opposite move upward.

The transition has brought promising signs for the Red Bull leadership despite the significant performance gap between Tsunoda and the four-time world champion.

"Yes, Yuki is getting better and better,"

Marko told Austrian outlet OE24.

"He's the first [Verstappen] team-mate to get a taste of Max's performance."

The praise comes after Tsunoda has secured points in three of his four race weekends with the senior team.

He finished ninth in Bahrain and tenth in Miami's Grand Prix, while achieving a more impressive sixth-place result in the Miami sprint race.

Despite these encouraging performances, Marko identified a key weakness that continues to hamper the Japanese driver's progress at critical moments.

"Unfortunately, he still makes mistakes when the pressure increases,"

the Austrian advisor noted, suggesting Tsunoda's mental fortitude remains an area for improvement as he settles into the demands of a top team.

Tsunoda's six points with Red Bull fall significantly short of Verstappen's 63 in the same timeframe, highlighting the considerable gap that still exists between the teammates.

Nevertheless, Marko's comments indicate genuine optimism about Tsunoda's trajectory.

The Miami Grand Prix weekend proved challenging for the entire Red Bull operation. Despite Verstappen securing pole position for the second consecutive race, he couldn't maintain his advantage during the Grand Prix.

McLaren demonstrated superior race pace with Oscar Piastri claiming victory ahead of teammate Lando Norris.

Verstappen had to settle for fourth position, crossing the finish line a substantial 40 seconds behind the winner. Mercedes driver George Russell even managed to overtake the Dutchman during a well-timed Virtual Safety Car period.

"We simply weren't fast enough,"

Marko admitted.

"Over one lap, Max is right there, he makes up for a lot with his ability, which I call the Max factor. But unfortunately we saw in the race that the McLaren can go at an incredible speed."

The performance deficit revealed in Miami has raised serious concerns within the team. Marko expressed particular alarm at the magnitude of the gap to the race winner.

"[The 40-second gap] is really a lot, and it would have been even more if Max hadn't driven ahead of the McLaren on the first few laps and slowed them down," he explained.

The Red Bull advisor also acknowledged the resurgent threat from Mercedes, suggesting they might now pose an even greater challenge than previously thought.

"As George Russell's third place shows, Mercedes is even stronger. So we really have to come up with something," Marko insisted.

The championship standings reflect Red Bull's recent struggles. The team currently sits third in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Mercedes by 36 points and finding themselves a substantial 141 points behind leaders McLaren.

As Tsunoda continues his adaptation to the pressured environment of Red Bull's senior team, his development could prove crucial to their championship aspirations.

Marko's unprecedented comparison to Verstappen suggests the Japanese driver might play a more significant role than initially expected in Red Bull's efforts to reclaim their dominant form.