Yuki Tsunoda admits that he thought he thought his chances of promoting Red Bull left before her surprise replacing Liam Lawson because he outlined the goals he got his new team.
This weekend, Tsunoda will make his debut for the Senior team Red Bull in his home Japanese Grand Prix, just over three months after he was originally overlooked by the team’s chiefs for more Enexrénní Lawson.
Speak solely Sky Sports F1 At the Red Bull demonstration event in Tokyo on Wednesday, Tsunod said he thought his test for the team for the December after the season of Abu Dhabi’s meeting showed as his last chance.
Asked if they think that after four years to racing for the Red Bull junior team will never become promotion, Tsunoda admitted: “To be honest, yeah.
“Even though I was 2025 this year, although I was for Red Bull Racing before, and I was already doing my seat before testing in Bahrain, probably like 10 percent of myself, inside my head was like,” What do I do this seat? “You know what i mean?
“I felt as if last year’s end of the season was the biggest chance and I went closest to my career, and it didn’t happen. So, it was a bit shocking for me, I would say, but that’s what it is. I just focused on getting out of RB well.”
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Bernie Collins and Ted Kravitz provide insight into how they think Yuki Tsunoda will perform when he is taking a step out of junior team racing bulls to Red Bull. Now you can listen to the latest podcast the F1 show.
But Lawson’s fighting in the opening of the season Two races mean that Tsunoda is now getting a chance to drive RB21 next to Max Verstappen World Champion in what is the final home race Engine Partner Honda with Red Bull.
Tsunod’s career has long been supported by the Japanese manufacturer.
Given the circumstances of the unexpected promotion of Tsunod, “it is difficult to experience (something) more crazy more than in this situation in the future” – although he said that he accepts the situation as “I love this challenge” and “I love adventure”.
But even though it is obviously the biggest opportunity for a 24 -year career F1, even the director of the Red Bull team Christian Horner regularly described the place next to Verstappen as “the hardest in F1”.
Tsunoda is a fifth driver who occupies the seat in the area of seven seasons after Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and now Lawson.
“It’s a little unknown until I hit him with him, but I’m sure it will be difficult, that’s for sure,” Tsunoda said.
“At the moment he is the largest driver in the world and we all know he is good, but I just build my pace, you know, and I learn as much as possible, but the good advantage is that I have experienced for five years in RB.”
“I just had to accept it ‘ – Tsunoda draws comparison with his disappointment
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Liam Lawson believes he was ready, but was not given enough time after the decision to dismantle the Red Bull driver to Racing Bulls.
Asked if he felt for Lawson, who raced alongside 11 races on Racing Bulls in 2023-2024, Tsunoda drew comparison with his own disappointment when he missed the seat in New Zealand in the first place
“It wasn’t easy at the end of last season, but he certainly did the most,” Tsunoda said.
He told him that F1 was a “hard trade”, Tsunoda added: “Yeah. We also did our best at the end of the season and we didn’t get a Red Bull ticket, so it is fair and I had to accept it.
“I’m sure it will be very strong. RB is currently in good shape, people are amazing, very supportive, so I hope Liam will be back in shape and if all four cars are fighting in the TOP 10, which is probably the best (news) for Red Bull, so we have to bounce heavily.”
What if Tsunoda fights like Lawson?
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Christian Horner admitted that he asked “too much” Liam Lawson “too early” to see the Kiwi driver exchanged from Red Bull after racing bulls after only two races.
Also speaking Sky Sports F1 On Wednesday, the head of the Horner team said Red Bull “He must draw from experience that Yuki” in the middle of the confession that the team “has a job with a car”, which has proved to be four times the champion Verstappen.
But what if Tsunod’s adaptation to RB21 proves that it is not faster or easier than Lawson?
Asked if there was a risk that Tsunod could fight in the same way as his short -term predecessor, Horner replied: “Yeah, it exists, but then it shows a finger on the car, and I think what we have with Yuki is four and bit experiences that are able to draw. balances that he is coping with the season.
“For him, it’s a high order that jumps directly into the car, but it’s on the track that he knows well, and we did it soon to have a big impact on the rest of the season.”
And whether this year will have no other changes, Horner said, “Yuki has made four and the bit season in Formula 1.
What was Tsunod and what is focused on Suzuka?
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The F1 show identifies some problems that Red Bull must solve before the rest of the One Formula One season. Now you can listen to the latest podcast the F1 show.
Unlike Lawson, Tsunoda did not have the advantage before the RB21 season, and therefore for the first time he will drive a car in real life on Friday morning at two Suzuce exercises, live at 3.30 and 7:00 and 7:00 Sky Sports F1.
Tsunoda, who sample a car in a team simulator before leaving for Japan, said he got the same targets as Lawson – to qualify as close as possible to Verstappen and back up the Dutch efforts for help Red Bull to regain the constructors’ championship lost last year.
“That’s fair. To be as close to Max as possible, it is quite difficult, but at the same time I will do my best,” Tsunoda added.
“So far (this season) I was at the 3rd quarter and I felt confident. Just build a pace, feel a car from FP1 to FP3, it’s not much time, but I know I can.
And about the prospects of his home race, Tsunoda gave any expectations of any immediate guaranteed success.
“Not to think of (stage),” he said.
“It’s a completely different car and there are only three sessions (before qualifications) and I’m sure that this animal in the Red Bull car looks as if it was really hard to handle it, so with limited time even scoring points or go to (to) Q3 will not be easy.
“So I just take a step by step and if I get points, I’m happy.
“But so far, Suzuka, I just enjoy and feel a car. Hopefully I almost fully understand the car so that I can give feedback more specifically in the upcoming races, for development. This is my main goal.”
And in one early potential sign of encouragement Tsunod said he actually “loved” red bulls similar to overhanging than he arrived in F1, so he now hoped to “reveal another party” in RB21.
“At least in the simulator I feel good,” he added.
Thursday 3rd April
- 5:00: Driver’s press conference
Friday 4th April
- 3AM: Japanese practical GP one (session starts at 3.30 pm)*
- 5.30: 00: Team directors press conference
- 6.45: 00: Japanese practice GP Two (session starts at 7 o’clock)*
- 8.15: 00: Show F1*
Saturday 5th April
- 3.15: 00: Japanese practice GP three (session starts at 3.30 pm)*
- 6:00: Japanese qualification of Japanese GP*
- 7:00: Qualification of Japanese GP*
- 9:00: Ted’s qualifying notebook*
Sunday 6th April
- 4.30: Setup of Japanese GP: Sunday Grand Prix*
- 6:00: Japanese Grand Prix*
- 8:00: Japanese GP reaction: chessboard*
- 9:00: Ted’s notebook*
*Live also at the main Sky Sports event
Formula 1 heads to the iconic SUZUKA for the Japanese Grand Prix on 4.-6. April, lives on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract whenever cancel
