Yuki Tsunoda will make his debut for Red Bull at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. Tsunoda has immediately been thrust into his home race.
In the past, Red Bull have expressed concerns over Tsunoda’s mental strength, and it will immediately be put to the test. The pressure of the occasion is enormous.
Tsunoda’s ‘priority’ at Suzuka is to understand the car, he says. Red Bull’s recent challengers are said to be notoriously difficult to drive.
Indeed, Jolyon Palmer is worried about Tsunoda, suggesting he may have been ‘promoted’ to a slower car. The 24-year-old had comparable pace to new teammate Max Verstappen in his Racing Bull last time out in China.
Yuki Tsunoda overlooks Christian Horner message by targeting Japanese Grand Prix podium
Tsunoda will drive a Red Bull car in Tokyo this week as part of a series of promotional events. But first, he appeared at an event organised by engine suppliers Honda, who helped him secure the seat.
While there, he set a clear target for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, via sport.de: “I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but I do want to finish on the podium there.”
The fans at Suzuka haven’t been able to celebrate a home podium since 2012, when Kamui Kobayashi finished third for Sauber. Tsunoda, who scored his first point at the venue last year, believes he now has the machinery to end that drought.
| DRIVER | RACE | YEAR | POS |
| Kamui Kobayashi | Japanese Grand Prix | 2012 | 3rd |
| Takuma Sato | US Grand Prix | 2004 | 3rd |
| Aguri Suzuki | Japanese Grand Prix | 1990 | 3rd |
Speaking during the off-season, Christian Horner warned Liam Lawson of a ‘steep learning curve’ at Red Bull. He said it would take ‘time’ for the New Zealander to show his best form – a luxury he wasn’t afforded after a desperately poor start.
Tsunoda is far more experienced than Lawson – this weekend’s race will be his 90th in F1 – but he faces the same transition. It’s understandable that he wants to rally his fans, but it may be wiser to play down expectations.
Tsunoda’s goal doesn’t appear especially realistic given Red Bull’s profound issues right now, with even Verstappen forced to settle for fourth in China. His teammates have experienced a combined podium drought of 21 races.
Yuki Tsunoda disagrees with Liam Lawson after driving Red Bull car in simulator
Red Bull will use a special livery for the Japanese GP to celebrate their partnership with Honda. It’s been billed as the return of the ‘white bull’.
They used a similar design at the 2021 Turkish GP, an event where both Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished in the top three. A repeat would clearly be a dream for Tsunoda.
His first on-track experience of the RB21 will come during Friday’s practice session, but he’s already been on the simulator. Tsunoda says the Red Bull didn’t feel ‘challenging’ in the virtual domain, though that may change in real life.
Marko says Tsunoda’s simulator were times were ‘very good’, as was his feedback. If he can maintain a respectable margin to Verstappen and bring home solid points, his debut will be considered a success.
