Last weekend in Japan, all eyes were riveted on Yuki Tsunoda as he embarked on his Red Bull debut at his home Grand Prix. While expectations tempered, especially after Liam Lawson‘s abrupt two-race stint due to struggles with the RB21, Tsunoda initiated his journey on a promising note.
Through the two complete race weekends that Lawson faced with Red Bull, his constant hurdle was being knocked out in Q1, including once in Sprint Q1. Tsunoda managed to clear this initial barrier and, in terms of pace, maintained a respectable proximity to his teammate Max Verstappen in Q1.
Although just a tenth slower than Verstappen initially, Tsunoda slipped in subsequent qualifying stages, culminating in a 15th-place finish. During the race, he climbed only three places to finish 12th, while Verstappen smoothly converted his pole position into a victory.
Naomi Schiff shed light on Tsunoda’s unraveling debut. “Qualifying was where he didn’t necessarily deliver, but lest we forget, FP2 was curtailed with no lap put in,” she shared on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.
Second practice in Suzuka saw four disruptions due to red flags, hindering Tsunoda’s acclimatization to the Red Bull dynamics. “FP3 saw him back in the game, though he compromised the setup with high downforce and might not have capitalized on this,” Schiff added.
The debut, culminating in 12th place, exceeded expectations given the limited preparation but fell short of the podium ambitions set for his home Grand Prix. Expressing gratitude amidst contentment and unresolved aspirations, Tsunoda addressed his fans, feeling bolstered by their support despite not securing points.
The decision to opt for a lower downforce setup was a safer route, according to Schiff, but drew criticism from former champion Jacques Villeneuve. “Playing it safe doesn’t win races,” Villeneuve opined, emphasizing the gap between safety and aggressive racing akin to Verstappen’s style.
Tsunoda aimed ambitiously for a podium finish but left disappointed without points. Despite assurances from hours on the simulator with the RB21, the real-world conditions proved formidable. Yet, his performance clearly surpassed Lawson’s prior efforts, albeit resulting in a less-than-ideal debut finish.
Reflecting on his experience post-race, Tsunoda remarked, “Happy with my performance, though the result’s tough. I wanted points, especially in my home race, so it’s mixed emotions. I’m learning, gaining confidence, and felt more in control by the race’s end.”
Tsunoda believed an additional qualifying session might have altered outcomes, acknowledging Suzuka’s challenging characteristics that hinder overtaking. Having recognized areas of improvement, expectations loom for his stronger show in Bahrain.
