Yuki Tsunoda impressed in the simulator, but knows the real challenge begins when the RB21 hits the track for real.
Tsunoda recently had his first taste of the Red Bull RB21 – virtually, at least.
Ahead of his debut Grand Prix with the Milton Keynes-based team, the Japanese driver put in laps on the simulator and was surprised by how manageable the car felt.
Tsunoda had the chance to drive the RB20 on track last year, but this time, he’s starting with a digital preview of its successor.
And so far, the RB21 seems more refined to him – at least in the simulator world.
“Last year, I drove the real car,” Tsunoda said. “This time it was only on the sim, and that’s always easier – the simulator gives you a comfortable baseline, and you don’t really need to build confidence. It’s just virtual.”
Still, he knows there’s often a gap between sim and reality. What feels smooth in simulation can turn tricky once rubber meets asphalt. Despite this, Tsunoda remains cautiously optimistic.
“I honestly expected more of a challenge, especially hearing how tough it was for Liam [Lawson],” he admitted. “It’s definitely a big step from the Racing Bulls car. I just need to take it slow, get a feel for the car. It’s going to be a challenge for sure.”
Tsunoda Preps Fast, Learns Faster
Now, Tsunoda is focused on learning as much as he can, as quickly as possible.
“If I can get fully comfortable with the RB21, if I can really understand how it works, I believe the results will follow naturally,” he said.
“I just want to get out on track as soon as possible and start feeling the car in that first practice session. I know time is tight, but I’ll do everything I can to give good feedback and help us move forward. Right now, I’m feeling pretty confident.”
Tsunoda’s schedule has ramped up significantly since his promotion to Red Bull, but he was already planning a packed program ahead of his home race in Japan.
“About two days,” he said, when asked how long he had to prepare. “I already had a lot of promotional stuff lined up between China and Japan, so I had to cancel a few things—two or three events.”
Still, he believes the preparation time they had was put to good use.
“We did as much as possible. Was it enough? I can’t say for sure, but I do know those two days were really productive,” he said.
“We tested a lot of setups and found a clear direction to follow, at least for the start. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the car responds on day one.”
Red Bull, Tsunoda, Honda: No Pressure
Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe was by Tsunoda’s side during the interview and made it clear: Yuki’s promotion was a Red Bull decision, based entirely on merit.
“Our partnership with Red Bull ends this year, so we have no influence over their 2026 plans,” Watanabe said.
“Yuki earned his place through performance – now it’s up to him to prove he belongs in the long run. What matters most is his own drive. If he wants to stay with Red Bull, we support him, but we won’t interfere.”
Watanabe emphasized that Honda always backs Red Bull’s choices – whether or not their drivers are directly involved.
“We don’t know when or how Red Bull makes its decisions, but we always tell them: choose the best driver for the job,” he said. “I have a great relationship with Christian Horner. We regularly talk not just about drivers, but also about support structures at the track. This time, there were no special arrangements.”
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Tsunoda Calm Before the Storm: RB21 Awaits True Test
Tsunoda Calm Before the Storm: RB21 Awaits True Test
