n A world where formula 1 is full of glamor, millionaire contracts and passionate fans, there are stories that rarely come to light. Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio “Czech” Pérez, two names that resonate on the grill for different reasons, are now in the center of an awkward conversation. What nobody dares to say? The truth could shake more than one fan.
Yuki Tsunoda, the young Japanese talent who reached F1 with the promise of being the new Honda hero, has lived under a pressure that few imagine. Although it has shown flashes of speed and aggressiveness on the track, the truth is that its development has been affected by factors outside its control.
Sources close to the team ensure that Tsunoda has been the victim of a toxic environment, where it is required more than it is supported. “There is a lack of leadership and communication within its team,” reveals an anonymous engineer from the Red Bull family. “Sometimes, he is blamed for mistakes that were not his, and that undermines his trust.”
In addition, his position as a pilot financed by Honda has generated the stigma of being “the protected”, something that his rivals do not always see with good eyes. The result: a young man with talent, but emotionally worn.
On the other hand, Sergio Pérez has lived his own nightmare despite being in the most dominant team of recent years. At first glance, being Max Verstappen partner in Red Bull should be a privilege. But the reality is very different.
Since his arrival, Czech has been clearly relegated to the role of Escudero. His car, although apparently identical, has shown strange behaviors compared to that of Verstappen. Coincidence? Many experts believe no.
“Czech has never had the same treatment as Max. We see it in career strategies, in the orders of the team and even in the way they communicate with him by radio,” says a former F1 former player. There have even been races in which, deliberately, they have left it out of play to benefit the Dutch pilot.
The Mexican press has defended its pilot, but within the paddock, there is an awkward silence. The truth is that Pérez has sacrificed more than many imagine for staying in Red Bull.
Although Tsunoda and Pérez do not share many links, there is a point where their paths intersect: the influence of Red Bull and Honda. Both are part of an ecosystem where corporate interests sometimes weigh more than pure performance.
It has been speculated that Honda has pressed to protect Tsunoda and that Red Bull has yielded certain privileges to Pérez to keep Latin American market happy. But in that unstable balance, the pilots end up being pawns of a larger game.
Even within the paddock there is talk of an unresolved tension between them. On more than one occasion, their public statements have seemed indirect criticism of team management or even towards the other.
The most disturbing of all this is that both pilots are trapped in a network of interests where their talent is not always the priority. Political decisions, sponsorship contracts and commercial narratives weigh more than fans want to accept.
Yuki Tsunoda and Czech Pérez are not simple pilots: they are symbols of how formula 1 can be as cruel as glamorous. The pressure, injustices and internal struggles are not seen on television, but they are there, marking every return, every victory.
While we continue to celebrate podiums and overtaking, it is necessary to look beyond what the cameras show. The horrible truth about Tsunoda and Pérez is that sometimes, even the fastest do not have control of their destiny.
The next time you see them on the track, remember: behind the helmet, there are human beings dealing with more than we can imagine.
