Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull Racing Debut and Home Grand Prix Challenge

The spotlight will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he takes to the track for his debut race with Red Bull Racing, coinciding with his home grand prix. With high expectations and pressure, Tsunoda aims to secure a podium finish in what is considered one of the toughest jobs in Formula 1. Helmut Marko has expressed confidence that Tsunoda will complete the season with Red Bull, but only time will tell if he can deliver the results needed.

Can Tsunoda Prove Himself in Qualifying?

One of the biggest challenges for Tsunoda will be qualifying. With the RB21 being a tricky car to handle, it remains to be seen whether Tsunoda can avoid qualifying last and make it through to Q2 or even Q3. Scoring points in the second Red Bull car is another goal that Tsunoda must achieve to prove himself worthy of keeping his seat.

It’s worth noting that Liam Lawson, who was demoted from Red Bull earlier this season, will also be in the spotlight at Suzuka. This weekend presents an opportunity for Lawson to showcase his skills and prove Max Verstappen right, as the Dutchman believes Lawson could perform better in a Racing Bulls car.

Can McLaren Continue Their Dominance?

Meanwhile, McLaren has proven themselves to be the team with the fastest car so far this season. With a solid 1-2 finish in China and a third-place qualifying position for Lando Norris at Suzuka last year, is expected to continue their dominance in Japan. However, weather conditions and history could pose challenges for the team.

In the past, McLaren has struggled to maintain their winning streak after a strong start to the season. Additionally, rain could create unexpected scenarios on Sunday. But with Norris having the pace to stay ahead, he needs to avoid mistakes in qualifying and put together a clean weekend to secure a good starting position.

What is Ferrari’s True Form?

Ferrari’s performance this season has been inconsistent, with Lewis Hamilton dominating the Melbourne weekend only for the main race to end in a double disqualification. With McLaren and Red Bull clearly ahead, Ferrari needs a clean weekend in Japan to assess their true form in 2025.

George Russell has delivered on his promise to become the team’s new and sole leader, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues to learn and improve. But with McLaren and Red Bull setting the pace, Ferrari needs to step up their game if they want to challenge for podium finishes.