Yuki Tsunoda embraces Red Bull’s tricky RB21 setup, staying patient as he builds pace, confidence, and racecraft one weekend at a time.
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda says he’s adapting well to the Red Bull RB21, despite acknowledging the car’s tight performance window.
After a solid ninth-place finish in Bahrain last weekend, Tsunoda reflected on how different the RB21 feels compared to the VCARB 02 he drove last year. Speaking candidly, he admitted it’s a whole new challenge — especially when it comes to tyre management.
“It’s not really the same,” he explained. “The VCARB had a much wider performance window, so no matter what balance you had, it still worked fairly well. With the Red Bull, it’s much more specific — you need to hit a precise setup to unlock its potential.”
That precision, he says, is what makes the RB21 tricky to master.
“It’s not that I don’t feel confident in the car — I actually do,” Tsunoda continued. “It’s more about learning how to work within that narrow window. Things like warming up the tyres and preparing the car for a lap are more critical now than ever before. That’s the hardest part for me at the moment.”
Despite the learning curve, the 23-year-old remains optimistic.
“This kind of understanding comes with experience — plain and simple. I’m taking it step by step, trying different things each weekend. Sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t. But that’s all part of the process for me.”
Looking ahead to the next round in Saudi Arabia, Tsunoda is keeping the same approach.
“Even if I struggle in practice, I’m happy to take a few risks and keep learning. I won’t rush it. So far, I’m satisfied with how things are progressing.”
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Tsunoda Eyes Consistency As He Tackles RB21 Learning Curve Tsunoda Eyes Consistency As He Tackles RB21 Learning Curve
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