Rookie Driver Yuki Tsunoda Ready for Red Bull’s F1 Car Characteristics

Fresh off his promotion to Red Bull Racing, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda remains unfazed by the challenges posed by the team’s Formula 1 car. After Liam Lawson failed to adapt to the delicate RB21 machine, Tsunoda impressed in his first couple of F1 rounds with Racing Bulls in 2025, despite strategy miscalculations preventing him from scoring Sunday points.

Adapting to Red Bull’s Unique Characteristics

Despite the reputation for being tricky, Tsunoda sees the RB21 as having a different set-up philosophy rather than an extremely difficult car. He acknowledges that he had to adjust his approach compared to how he usually sets up the car at Racing Bulls.

Tsunoda, who enjoys cars that turn aggressively, is confident he can adapt his driving style to succeed with Red Bull’s oversteery F1 cars, which require a specific driving style due to their strong front-end grip and nervous rear end.

In the past, Racing Bulls had cars that understeered more, which Tsunoda found challenging initially but eventually adapted to. Now, he sees the key as adjusting to Red Bull’s characteristics again, given his past experience.

Navigating a Midseason Switch

Aware that no midseason switch is easy, Tsunoda is keeping expectations in check for the upcoming race in Suzuka. He aims to reach Q3 and secure a top 10 finish, focusing on understanding the car and maximizing its performance within the limited time of FP1.

The Road to Grand Prix Victory

Asked whether he could become Japan’s first ever grand prix winner, Tsunoda admitted that there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to maximize his performance in this car just yet. However, as a top team driver, he believes that if he can extract the car’s full potential, the opportunities will come.