Tsunoda Breathes a Sigh of Relief at Spa as He Returns to Top 10 and Closes Gap to Verstappen
Yuki Tsunoda has finally caught a much-needed break during the qualifying session for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The Japanese driver secured a place in the top ten, finishing ahead of both RB (Racing Bulls) cars, and notably reduced the gap to Red Bull Racing teammate Max Verstappen, who qualified in fourth position. It was an encouraging step forward for Tsunoda, who is fighting hard to prove himself worthy of the second Red Bull seat amid intense competition.
This result comes at a crucial moment, on a day when experienced drivers like Lewis Hamilton and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli both faltered during the Sprint and main qualifying sessions. In contrast, Yuki Tsunoda delivered a composed and consistent performance. With his RB equipped with Red Bull’s latest aerodynamic upgrades, particularly a new floor specification, Tsunoda showed significant improvement across all qualifying segments.
The 24-year-old driver, born in the year 2000, took advantage of these new upgrades to progress through each phase of qualifying. There was a moment of concern in Q1, where he only just made the cut by setting the 13th fastest time. However, he bounced back strongly in Q2, where he surprised many by securing fifth position, comfortably progressing to the final stage.
In Q3, Yuki Tsunoda managed to push even further, eventually claiming an excellent seventh place on the grid. He finished the session less than four-tenths of a second behind Max Verstappen, sending a strong message to the Red Bull management during a weekend when many of his rivals made costly mistakes.
Speaking after the session, Tsunoda expressed his satisfaction with the result: “I’m very happy with how it went today. The energy I had right before qualifying was just what I needed to get this result, even though there are still a few areas to improve. In any case, the new floor really made a difference.”
He also highlighted the impact of the technical upgrades brought to the car: “I definitely feel much better now. We’re running with the latest floor specification, although we don’t have the updated rear wing yet. I can’t reveal all the parts we’ve got, but the floor was the most significant change. There was some pressure today, but at the same time I really enjoyed the session. It’s been a while since I made it into Q3, so I’m very satisfied with this position.”
The Japanese driver further explained how the data and technical changes helped improve the overall feeling in the car: “From the data we had, we already knew how big the difference was compared to the previous weekends. And in terms of lap performance, the gap to Max Verstappen wasn’t too big. That confirmed that we’re moving in the right technical direction, and I’m glad I was able to take a step forward.”
He added that the car’s behavior had noticeably improved: “Previously, the car was much more sensitive. If it started sliding, it was hard to regain control. Now, though, it’s more manageable and predictable, and that allows you to push harder.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, Yuki Tsunoda admitted that weather conditions could play a key role. “We took an aggressive approach with the setup, and we’ll see tomorrow how things evolve. It looks like rain might be on the way, so it could turn into a very different kind of race. But I still have confidence, especially because we’ve made some changes to adopt a more hybrid setup. It’s not perfect for dry conditions, but it won’t be bad either if it rains.”
With this performance, Yuki Tsunoda not only secured a solid starting position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, but also sent a strong signal that he is regaining form, confidence, and trust in the car—key elements as he aims to solidify his future within the Red Bull Racing ecosystem.
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