Yuki Tsunoda has acknowledged that he believed his prospects of being promoted to Red Bull Racing had diminished before he received a surprising call-up to take Liam Lawson`s place. He also outlined the objectives set for him by his new team.
Tsunoda is set to debut with Red Bull`s main team at his home race, the Japanese Grand Prix, this weekend. This opportunity comes just over three months after team leaders initially chose Lawson, who had less experience, over him.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1 at a Red Bull event in Tokyo, Tsunoda mentioned that he felt his test for the team during the post-season Abu Dhabi session in December was his final chance.
When asked if he thought the promotion was unlikely after racing for Red Bull`s junior team for four years, Tsunoda admitted that he honestly did.
He shared that even when he was the reserve driver for Red Bull Racing earlier in 2025 and was doing seat fittings before the Bahrain testing, a part of him questioned the purpose of the seat fitting.
Tsunoda felt that the end of last season was his best and closest opportunity for promotion in his career, and when it didn`t happen, it was surprising. However, he maintained his focus on performing well with RB.
Liam Lawson’s difficulties in the initial races of the season have paved the way for Tsunoda to now drive the RB21 alongside world champion Max Verstappen. This is particularly significant as it is engine partner Honda`s final home race with Red Bull.
Considering the unexpected nature of this promotion, Tsunoda believes it`s hard to imagine a more extraordinary situation in the future. He expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge and adventure.
Despite this being the biggest opportunity in his F1 career so far, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has often described the seat next to Verstappen as the most challenging in Formula 1.
Tsunoda is now the fifth driver to occupy this seat in seven seasons, following Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and Liam Lawson.
Tsunoda anticipates a challenge in competing with Verstappen, recognizing him as the current best driver globally. However, he aims to gradually increase his pace, learn from Verstappen, and leverage his five years of experience with RB.
Reflecting on Lawson`s situation, Tsunoda drew parallels with his own disappointment at initially being overlooked for the Red Bull seat. He acknowledged that it wasn`t easy for him at the end of last season either, but he accepted it as part of the sport.
Tsunoda believes Lawson will rebound strongly, praising the supportive environment at RB and expressing hope that all four Red Bull-affiliated cars will compete in the top 10.
Team chief Horner emphasized the need to utilize Tsunoda`s experience to aid car development, acknowledging that the RB21 has been difficult to handle, even for Verstappen.
When questioned about the risk of Tsunoda also struggling, Horner admitted the possibility. However, he believes Tsunoda`s experience will help progress car development throughout the season. He highlighted that Suzuka is a track Tsunoda knows well, providing a timely opportunity for him to make an impact.
Horner confirmed that they are counting on Tsunoda`s experience and that the focus is on developing the car to suit both drivers.
Tsunoda mentioned his targets are the same as Lawson`s: to qualify as close to Verstappen as possible and support Red Bull`s quest to regain the Constructors` Championship.
He acknowledges the difficulty of matching Verstappen`s pace but is confident in his recent Q3 performances. He aims to quickly adapt to the car during practice sessions and potentially achieve more than just getting into Q3.
Regarding his home race prospects, Tsunoda tempered expectations, stating that scoring points or reaching Q3 in a new car that seems challenging to handle would be a success. He intends to build pace gradually from Suzuka onwards and provide specific feedback for car development.
Encouragingly, Tsunoda mentioned his past preference for oversteering cars, similar to the Red Bull, and hopes to showcase a different aspect of his driving style with the RB21, expressing a positive initial feeling in the simulator.
Marcus Prine