The Formula 1 world was buzzing with anticipation leading up to the Japanese Grand Prix. The driver swap that sent Yuki Tsunoda to Red Bull Racing and Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls was a major talking point. Lawson, despite having only two races under his belt with Red Bull, was perceived to have underperformed and buckled under the immense pressure of driving for the energy drink giant. In contrast, Tsunoda, who had consistently delivered solid performances for the Faenza-based team, was finally given the opportunity many believed he deserved.
Tsunoda's debut with Red Bull, taking place on his home turf in Japan, was accompanied by high expectations. The 24-year-old even boldly stated his ambition to secure his first-ever podium finish in front of his adoring fans. He confidently claimed that the RB21 car wasn't as challenging as people made it out to be, having spent two days familiarizing himself with it in the simulator. Tsunoda expressed unwavering confidence, urging the public to set their expectations high.
However, as is often the case in motorsport, reality can be harsh. Despite his ambitious pronouncements, Tsunoda was promptly reminded to keep his feet on the ground, as performing for Red Bull is no easy feat. Instead of challenging for a top spot, Tsunoda stumbled in Q2 during qualifying, forcing him to start the Japanese Grand Prix from 14th position, just behind Lawson, the driver he replaced at Red Bull. To add insult to injury, Isaac Hadjar, driving for Racing Bulls, continued his positive momentum by qualifying in seventh place. This underscored the difficulty of extracting maximum performance from the RB21.
During the race, Tsunoda struggled to make an impact, finding himself trapped in dirty air and only managing two overtakes – one on Lawson after the start and another on Pierre Gasly via an undercut. He spent the majority of the race trailing Fernando Alonso, ultimately finishing in 12th place. This placed him a distant 58 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who secured a dominant victory. Notably, Tsunoda finished only six seconds closer to Verstappen in Japan than Lawson did in Shanghai, which had led to his demotion. This outcome was far from Tsunoda's initial goal of a podium finish at his home race.
While the results may not have been entirely satisfactory, a closer examination reveals some positive aspects that could offer Tsunoda some encouragement for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. Tsunoda had a promising start to the Japanese Grand Prix, closely tailing Max Verstappen in FP1, just 0.1 seconds behind. This strong start aligned with Red Bull's expectations of him staying close to Verstappen to provide support. However, repeated red flags during subsequent practice sessions due to grass fires disrupted Tsunoda's rhythm and prevented him from setting competitive lap times, costing him valuable track time. This disruption impacted his preparations for the crucial qualifying session on Saturday.
During Q1, Tsunoda matched Verstappen's best time and remained closely behind him. However, in Q2, Red Bull equipped Tsunoda with used tires for his first run, resulting in an uncompetitive lap time. This forced him to attempt another hot lap at the end of the session. Unfortunately, Tsunoda made a few errors at the beginning of his second attempt, including entering the first and second corners too aggressively, which cost him significant time. Despite improving his time slightly, it wasn't enough to advance beyond Q2. Notably, Tsunoda's Q2 time was slower than his Q1 time, indicating that he had the potential to go faster if he hadn't made those mistakes.
Several factors contributed to Tsunoda's struggles during qualifying, particularly in Q2. One was his choice of setup, which differed from Max Verstappen's. Tsunoda opted for a higher downforce configuration. He attributed his setup choice to a lack of track time during FP2, which left him unsure about the ideal setup for the RB21. He also admitted that the RB21 was more challenging to drive than the simulator and more complex than the Racing Bulls car. Seeking consistency, Tsunoda decided to use a higher downforce setting on the rear wing, as opposed to Verstappen's more aggressive approach focused on efficiency. He also considered the possibility of rain during the race when making his setup decisions. However, despite using the higher downforce configuration, Tsunoda believed it shouldn't have prevented him from reaching Q3. His biggest obstacle was adapting to the RB21, which he hadn't fully mastered due to limited track time in FP2, leading to significant setup changes.
Tsunoda echoed Lawson's sentiments regarding the RB21's narrow operating window, which made it difficult for him to advance beyond Q2. Tsunoda struggled to optimize tire temperatures during his hot lap preparations and tended to overdrive the car in corners, further destabilizing it.
Momentum and rhythm are crucial for unlocking the RB21's full potential. However, achieving that momentum is challenging due to the car's narrow operating window, particularly concerning tire temperatures and setup choices. This highlights the key difference between Tsunoda and Lawson. Tsunoda understands what needs to be done and possesses more technical knowledge from his five seasons in F1. While Lawson was unsure of his actions and limited by his reliance on the team, Tsunoda already has preferences for his driving style and setup. Yuki understands which areas to adjust to improve his comfort with the RB21, and his precise technical input is valuable for future car development. Despite resulting in a less competitive race, the setup change from FP2 to FP3 is a logical approach during this adaptation phase, where consistency is prioritized to gain the best feeling with the RB21.
During the race, Tsunoda provided feedback on the front wing flap settings before the pit stop and understood the engine modes that needed adjustment during the race. He even independently changed settings before the team instructed him over the radio. In contrast, Lawson's setup changes in Shanghai had little impact, and he struggled with significant tire degradation despite not being in dirty air. Tsunoda spent most of the race in Suzuka following Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso in dirty air, yet he maintained consistent speed and remained close to them until the finish. While the Suzuka and Shanghai circuits have drastically different characteristics, Tsunoda's ability to maintain consistency in dirty air demonstrates a better approach to tire management and good overall speed. Imagine if he had made it to Q3.
Looking ahead, Tsunoda's future performance depends on his ability to push harder and take more risks in Bahrain. Red Bull has historically been strong at the Bahrain circuit due to its rear-end stability, and Tsunoda has scored points there twice. The key is for him to gain more track time in Japan to understand the RB21 and identify its weaknesses. His positive impression within the team is evident, as Helmut Marko seems pleased with Tsunoda's ability to stay close to Max Verstappen. However, Tsunoda's primary goal remains to score points for Red Bull. It's not ideal to see Max Verstappen shouldering the entire burden with 61 constructor points. Even Isaac Hadjar has more points than Tsunoda from the Japanese Grand Prix. As with Lawson, points ultimately matter, as Red Bull doesn't want to rely solely on one driver to compete against McLaren. Bahrain will be the first test to determine whether Tsunoda can justify Red Bull's faith in him and meet public expectations as a more suitable teammate for Verstappen.
In conclusion, Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull debut in Suzuka was a reality check. While his initial performance didn't meet expectations, there were positive signs that suggest he has the potential to improve. His ability to adapt to the RB21, provide valuable technical feedback, and manage tires effectively in dirty air are all encouraging. The Bahrain Grand Prix will be a crucial opportunity for Tsunoda to demonstrate his progress and prove that he deserves his place in the Red Bull Racing team.
