Yuki Tsunoda embraces the challenge of driving for Red Bull at Suzuka, staying calm while targeting points and adapting to a new car.
Yuki Tsunoda heads into Suzuka with a unique kind of pressure. Not only is he racing in front of his home fans in Japan, but he’s also tasked with stepping into the challenge of Red Bull Racing.
Recently promoted to replace Liam Lawson, Tsunoda now faces the task of adapting to the RB21, a car that’s said to be difficult to handle and tailored specifically for Max Verstappen’s driving style.
Despite the high stakes, Tsunoda appeared calm when he arrived at the paddock.
“No, no nerves!” he said.
“I think the situation is perfect. It’s rare to experience this kind of pressure, such high expectations, and such a big challenge all at once, so I’m really looking forward to making the most of it.”
“This is my home Grand Prix, and I love Suzuka. Honestly, I think it will take me some time to adapt, and I don’t think it will be easy. I just want to understand the car as much as possible starting from FP1, and of course, aim for points.”
“Friday will be an unknown. Normally, you have some expectations, but for me, I really have none. I’ll just drive, do laps, and I hope to be among the best! I don’t want to talk too much about podiums; maybe I made a mistake even bringing that up. But of course, that’s my ultimate goal if possible. First and foremost, I’m aiming for Q3 and points. I also hope to enjoy Suzuka with everyone and my fans.”
Tsunoda has had some brief chats with Verstappen, his new teammate, but nothing too substantial just yet.
“We’ve had a good relationship since our first year in the Red Bull family. He’s a really nice guy. I’m excited to race alongside him. He’s one of the best drivers… probably the best driver on the grid right now. I’m going to learn as much as I can from him, from his driving style, and how he maximizes the car’s performance. We’ll see how it goes.”
“It’s a bit of an unknown until I’m actually on track with him, but I’m sure it will be a challenge, no doubt. He’s the best driver in the world right now, and we all know he’s good. But I just need to step up my pace and learn as much as I can from him. But one advantage I have is that I’ve already got five years of experience at Red Bull.”
Tsunoda was also asked about the disappointment Liam Lawson must be feeling after being demoted. He admitted he felt the same way when he didn’t get a Red Bull Racing seat last winter.
“The end of last season wasn’t easy for me either! I wasn’t chosen…”
“But Liam did his best, for sure. Just like I did my best at the end of last season and didn’t get the Red Bull seat. So, it’s a natural part of the process, and I had to accept it.”
“Since I was the reserve driver at Red Bull Racing, I was already doing seat fittings before the Bahrain test. Maybe 10% of me wondered, ‘Why am I doing these fittings?’ You know? I felt like last season’s finale was the closest I’d ever come to getting that Red Bull seat. But it didn’t happen. So for me, it was a bit of a shock.”
“For Liam, I’m sure he will bounce back strongly. Racing Bulls is in great shape right now, and the team is amazing and supports us a lot. So, I hope Liam gets back in form, and if all four cars are fighting in the top 10, that will probably be the best thing for Red Bull. We have to come back stronger.”
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Tsunoda Faces Red Bull Challenge With No Nerves at Suzuka Tsunoda Faces Red Bull Challenge With No Nerves at Suzuka
