Red Bull’s struggles with both their second driver and second car have been well known for some time now.
Since Daniel Ricciardo departed the team at the end of the 2018 season, five Formula 1 drivers have partnered Max Verstappen at the Austrian outfit.
While Sergio Perez was fairly consistent during his four seasons with the team, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled.
The latter is the current incumbent of the second car, and has played a part across the last three races in setting a damning statistic that reinforces the issue at the team.
Red Bull have scored fewer points than Sauber at the last three races
At the last three Grand Prix, in Austria, Canada and Spain, respectively, Red Bull have scored 19 points.
All of these have come through Verstappen. While his race was ended by no fault of his own at the Red Bull Ring, the current World Champion finished second in Montreal and occupied the final points position in Catalunya following a collision with George Russell, not the first time Verstappen has lost his cool.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, finished 13th in Spain, 12th in Canada, and last of the remaining runners in Austria.
| Race | Points scored by Sauber | Points scored by Red Bull |
| Spanish Grand Prix | 10 | 1 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | 4 | 18 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | 6 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 20 | 19 |
Sauber, on the other hand, have had an excellent few races.
Most of their points have come through the experienced Nico Hulkenberg, with the German finishing an excellent fifth in Spain, eighth in Canada, and ninth in Austria after qualifying last.
Rookie teammate Gabriel Bortoleto joined in on the act at the Red Bull Ring, finishing eighth after his best weekend so far this season to claim his first Formula 1 points.
Cumulatively, it means Sauber have scored 20 points across the last three Grand Prix, one more than Red Bull.
While it shows the great strides the team have taken this season, it is also a damning indictment of where Red Bull would be without Verstappen.
As much as Verstappen is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, Tsunoda is by no means poor, and nor are the other four who have occupied the second Red Bull seat since 2019.
Without fixing the issues they have, Red Bull are destined to continue struggling when the Dutchman has a disrupted weekend.
Max Verstappen to Mercedes rumours swirl as Dutchman’s Red Bull exit clause is activated
The issues that Red Bull have with their second car could become even more pressing should Verstappen decide to leave at the end of this season.
Coming into the weekend in Austria, George Russell revealed that the reason he has not yet signed a contract with Mercedes is because he understands the team have approached Verstappen about racing for them, meaning the Briton wants to see the outcome of that approach before committing to anything himself.
After Verstappen’s race was ended prematurely at the Red Bull Ring by Russell’s teammate Antonelli, it also emerged that an early exit clause in the 27-year-old’s contract is now active.
As reported by the Daily Express US, journalist Julianne Cerasoli says the clause has become active because ‘Verstappen finds himself outside the top two of the standings at the halfway point of the season’.
Having originally penned a deal to the end of 2028, it means Verstappen can now more easily join a new team, should he wish to do so.
If he does, it would leave Red Bull in big trouble, bearing in mind they have built the car year-on-year to suit the four-time World Champion’s driving style.