Debuting for a multiple-time world champion team that won yet another title in 2024—and doing so in front of his home crowd—is not something that happens every day. Yuki Tsunoda will have this huge opportunity this weekend when Formula 1 heads to the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Japanese driver was called up to replace the underwhelming Liam Lawson (who, it should be noted, only had the chance to compete in two races with the RB21…) and will have the chance to complete the season alongside Max Verstappen, who, statistically, is the worst possible teammate to have.
Yuki Tsunoda has already tested the RB21 in the simulator, where he began discovering the characteristics of a car that many have described as “difficult.” However, he sought to explain how it differs from the VCARB02 he drove up until the Chinese Grand Prix and what he needs to do to adapt as quickly as possible to a car that is undoubtedly fast, but so far only in the hands of the four-time world champion in the garage next to his.
“Rather than being an extremely difficult car, I felt that the setup philosophy is completely different from that of the Racing Bulls. I had to slightly adjust my approach compared to what I used to set up the VCARB02.”
“It is often said that Red Bull cars tend to have strong front-end grip and generate oversteer. Personally, I love cars that rotate aggressively, and in the past, I adapted my driving style to this type of setup.” – he pointed out – “The Racing Bulls traditionally had a bit more understeer, which initially made things difficult for me, but I adjusted, and eventually, it became second nature.”
“Now the key will be adapting once again to the characteristics of the Red Bull. But considering my past experience, I’m not too worried.”
After initially admitting that he was aiming for the podium, Yuki Tsunoda has significantly lowered his expectations for his debut race with Red Bull. Reaching Q3 in qualifying and finishing in the Top 10 in the race could be a solid starting point for this new chapter.
“Honestly, I don’t think too much about being the first Japanese driver to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix. There’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to maximize my performance with the RB21. However, given that this is a top team, I believe that if I manage to extract the full potential of the car, the opportunities will come.”
“The key will be understanding the car well and maximizing performance in the limited time available in Free Practice 1. Looking ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix, my goal is to qualify in Q3 and finish in the Top 10 in the race. As for the podium, I’m not thinking about it for now. But I’d be happy if it happened.”
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