Yuki Tsunoda qualified P15 for Sunday’s F1 Japanese GP as the new Red Bull Racing driver had a disappointing Q2 at his home race. A grid penalty for Carlos Sainz moves him up a spot.
Throughout practice and in Q1, the 24-year-old kept Max Verstappen honest, although the Dutchman generally had a small advantage.
F1 Japanese GP qualifying goes south for Yuki Tsunoda in Q2
In the second segment of qualifying, Tsunoda was 0.6s off his Dutch teammate on run 1 as he had to take used tyres. On the second lap on fresh boots, he had a big moment in turn 2, having a snap and losing a couple of tenths at least.
Thanks to the close nature of Formula 1 these days, it resulted in P15. He was 0.498s slower than teammate Max Verstappen in the end.
Speaking in the print media zone after qualifying, the Japanese driver explained how not getting everything right on the prep lap cost him dearly.
As Liam Lawson explained in China, the operating window for the 2025 Red Bull car is very narrow.
“I mean Q1 as well felt pretty good.
“I just missed the window, I guess.The window that this car can operate is very narrow, and the warm-up, probably most of the things have to be almost perfect, especially warm-up.
“Especially Q2, run 2, I wasn’t able to do the warm-up I wanted as previous runs, so that makes a big difference in the end. Something I learned, I kind of recognised in Q2, but it was a bit too late.
“It’s a shame that I didn’t put it all together when it mattered.”
Red flag not a problem
Tsunoda expanded on the warm-up issues, as well as the moment he had in turn 2.
“I think it’s not that [the red flag delay hurting him], it’s just warm-up, I guess.
“I don’t know, I had quite a big gust in turn 2, quite big moments I had, which are a bit unexpected. So, I’ll have to see what happened there.
“But at least I showed a good pace in Q1 and I feel like I have good confidence in the car. I’m sure it’s still a process I’m learning.
“But it’s a big shame […] I didn’t expect this result, to be honest.”
Tsunoda has a good understanding of the RB21 after qualifying for the F1 Japanese GP
The challenge Yuki Tsunoda faced heading into the weekend should not be underestimated. No testing with the tricky RB21 left him facing plenty of learning as he got life underway at Red Bull Racing.
Following qualifying, he believes good progress was made on understanding the car after practice was a mess thanks to grass fires.
“Yeah, I feel like I finished Q2 with a good reading about the Red Bull.
“FP2 was such a limited time I had, and FP3 I was able to give a good pace, and in Q1 I felt pretty confident.
“For Q2, just something that you didn’t expect happened.
“So yeah, I’m sure if I have one more run it will be different, but it is what it is. You always to put it all together when it matters.”
How the RB21 has been feeling during the F1 Japanese GP weekend for Yuki Tsunoda
Suzuka is a favourite track for many drivers, no matter what category they race in due to its intense and high speed challenge. It’s also very appreciated and loved by F1 followers all over the globe.
Asked how the RB21 has been performing in high and low speed, the home hero detailed the trickiness of the Red Bull package as he learns its strengths and weaknesses.
“Here it’s always a bit tricky at slow speed, because normally the set-up is more towards high speed, but high speed felt pretty good.
“I feel like this car drives on the edge with the rear. At least for now, I feel pretty okay with the stability. I would say in terms of rear sliding, I’m feeling it, but I feel like at the same time, this kind of direction is a set-up that I have to drive to perform well in the car.
“So, at least I recognised it throughout the free practices, and it just wasn’t enough in the end to put it all together, I guess.”
Patience the key for Yuki Tsunoda on Red Bull Racing debut
From P14, Yuki Tsunoda will line-up alongside Liam Lawson on the grid as the drivers who swapped seats share the seventh row for Sunday’s F1 Japanese GP.
Rain is forecast for Suzuka on Sunday, and it will require a calm head to navigate the conditions, whether it’s wet or dry in the end. A lack of long runs in FP2 leaves drivers and teams unsure of where they stand.
“Yeah, I’ll be patient.
“I was expecting a little bit more today, so that definitely makes a bit of a disappointment now, but it’s not impossible.
“At least I felt the last two days that if I learn more and if I’m able to sync with the car much more, I know I can extract much more consistently, which is important.
“It will be an interesting race tomorrow, if it rains or whatever.
“I didn’t have much of a long run, to be honest, but I’ll do my best.”
