Analyzing Yuki Tsunoda’s Performance in His First Drive with Red Bull’s RB21 Formula 1 Car

The anticipation surrounding Yuki Tsunoda’s first real drive of the Red Bull RB21 Formula 1 car was met with a mix of answers and uncertainties. While many aspects remained undecided, it wasn’t entirely due to Tsunoda’s performance. The second practice session was marred by four red-flag periods, limiting his track time and preventing him from conducting a qualifying simulation on soft tires.

A Day of Mixed Fortunes for the Rookie Driver

Despite the challenging circumstances, Tsunoda showed promising signs in the first practice session, with a lap time only 0.107 seconds slower than teammate Max Verstappen. However, FP2 saw a significant gap between their performance, with Verstappen posting the eighth fastest lap and Tsunoda lagging behind in 18th position.

The discrepancy in their times doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, they were much closer in FP1, with Tsunoda finishing fifth and Verstappen sixth. The second practice session was marked by several factors that made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

Navigating Changes and Adapting to the Real Car

Part of the Suzuka track has been resurfaced, which will affect its behavior throughout the weekend. Additionally, Tsunoda had to familiarize himself with the RB21’s unique characteristics that differ from the simulator-driven version he had been using.

Red Bull introduced three minor aerodynamic changes in FP1, aiming to improve airflow around the rear end. These modifications can have performance implications, and the team claimed they were primarily for reliability reasons.

Interpreting Sensations and Building Confidence

After FP1, Tsunoda described the car as “interesting.” However, he didn’t make the same observation as Verstappen, who felt his RB21 was “flexing” through sector two. While the car may not have been flexing, it produced sensations similar to that in areas where the RB21 tends to exhibit lurching from understeer to oversteer.

Tsunoda, as a rookie, was cautious about criticizing the car on his first day. He acknowledged the need to build up confidence and adapt to the real car’s feel, which he found to be slightly more challenging than expected.

The Road Ahead for Tsunoda

The four red flags in FP2 disrupted everyone but particularly affected Tsunoda, who was attempting a performance run on soft tires when the session was halted. This forced him to switch to a race simulation, which may have limited his ability to push the car to its limits before qualifying.

Suzuka is a challenging track where overtaking is difficult, making qualifying almost everything. FP3 represents Tsunoda’s last opportunity to explore the RB21’s limits before qualifying.

Franz Tost’s High Expectations for Tsunoda

Former Red Bull boss Franz Tost, a guest pundit this weekend on the Austrian TV channel ORF, expressed his confidence in Tsunoda. “Yuki has incredible natural speed,” he declared. “I’ve been saying that for years. Now, he just needs to put it all together properly.” If Tsunoda fails to meet these expectations, will Tost be the next pundit to change his tune?