This week has seen Formula 1 drivers begin to return to various tracks around Europe in preparation for the 2025 season.
Although the majority of people have been most interested in how Lewis Hamilton fared on his first Ferrari test, Racing Bulls were testing just down the road at Imola.
The circuit that hosts the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is regularly used by Red Bull’s sister team due to its proximity to their Italian base.
Yuki Tsunoda was the first driver to step into their 2023 car – the AT04 – ahead of new teammate Isack Hadjar and Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa testing later in the week.
Tsunoda has plenty to prove this year after missing out on a seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
When Sergio Perez’s Red Bull exit was confirmed, team principal Christian Horner instead decided to promote Liam Lawson despite his lack of Formula 1 experience.
Tsunoda will be the clear team leader at Racing Bulls alongside Hadjar and a report from Motorsport Italia has shared more details about his return to action.
He won’t be happy with the fastest times he set, but there was one obvious caveat that should be taken into account when studying the data.
Yuki Tsunoda’s fastest lap of 2025 testing at Imola compared to his 2024 qualifying times
Last season, Tsunoda managed to reach Q3 at Imola, setting a 1:15.465, outqualifying Daniel Ricciardo by two-tenths of a second.
That time set in dry conditions with the car set up optimally for one-lap running.
On Tuesday, Tsunoda was initially running in drying conditions after three flying laps setting a time around the 1:31.000 mark.
The freezing temperatures didn’t help matters before he started a 10-lap stint where his fastest lap was recorded at 1:27.860.
After another break, Tsunoda then alternated between push laps and cooldown laps which also included a pit stop test.
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By the end of the day, Tsunoda had managed to set a 1:21.250, which was still nearly six seconds slower than his fastest time from qualifying last year.
It’s impossible to compare the AT04 times to the 2023 season as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled that year due to flooding in the area.
Tsunoda’s test finished with a series of pit stops, simulating the entire process from entering the pit lane to deactivating the limiter.
While it’s not necessarily something teams have to practice at circuits, the hundredths of a second that could be saved during a pit stop could be pivotal in a race situation.
Yuki Tsunoda hoping to beat another Racing Bulls teammate upon Isack Hadjar’s arrival
Tsunoda’s last three teams at Red Bull’s sister team have all failed to beat the Japanese driver.
Lawson failed to outqualify Tsunoda during the final six races of the 2024 season, however, he did finish ahead of him on his second debut at the United States Grand Prix.
Hadjar is undoubtedly fast but has had very little experience testing Formula 1 cars.
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Red Bull had concerns about Hadjar after his FP1 session at Silverstone last year but are willing to give him his chance this season as the most obvious replacement for Lawson after his promotion.
Tsunoda’s aware his time in the Red Bull stable could end soon and a strong 2025 may be the only way he avoids dropping off the Formula 1 grid completely.
While very little can be read into his initial testing times, he’ll be hoping to prove he’s a step above Hadjar and worthy of retaining his seat beyond this season.
