Analysis of Yuki Tsunoda’s First Race in the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix

In a thrilling race that saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen deliver an exceptional performance, Yuki Tsunoda, the young Japanese driver, made his debut in the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Despite a disappointing qualifying round, Tsunoda managed to hold his own in the challenging RB21.

A Disappointing Qualifying Round for Tsunoda

Speaking after the race, Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko was content with Tsunoda’s performance, despite a mistake in the qualifying round that saw him lose valuable time and qualify 15th. However, after a penalty for Carlos Sainz of Williams, Tsunoda was promoted to 14th, while team-mate Max Verstappen started from pole position.

In the race itself, Tsunoda managed to make two places, finishing 12th behind Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

Tsunoda’s Reflections on His Debut Performance

After the race, Tsunoda admitted that he “expected more.” He was happy with his performance during the race but felt let down by the results, especially considering it was his home Grand Prix.

For Tsunoda, this race served as a valuable learning experience, given his limited time behind the wheel of the challenging RB21. He completed 53 laps in this race, which was the most he had driven the car. Every lap was a learning opportunity for him, and he felt more confident and in control towards the end of the race.

Despite the mixed feelings about his performance, Tsunoda is looking forward to the next race in Bahrain, where he hopes to build on his pace and learn from team-mate Max Verstappen.

Verstappen’s Masterclass Performance and Red Bull’s Future Prospects

Meanwhile, Verstappen provided the Milton Keynes team with a masterclass performance today, completing 53 laps without any mistakes and pushing the car to its limit. Dr. Marko commented on Verstappen’s chances of a fifth drivers’ championship. He acknowledged that the car had a good setup and praised Verstappen’s exceptional skill. However, he also emphasized that there were still 21 races to come and that they needed to continue improving their car.

With such promising performances from both Tsunoda and Verstappen, the future looks bright for Red Bull Racing. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next race in Bahrain to see how these young talents will continue to push the boundaries of racing.