Yuki Tsunoda admitted that handling Red Bull`s car was more challenging than he anticipated during his first practice sessions for the team at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Tsunoda recently joined Max Verstappen at Red Bull, stepping up from Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson was moved out of the seat just after two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Making his debut for Red Bull at his home race, Tsunoda initially showed good performance in the first practice, finishing close behind Verstappen.
However, in the second practice, which had several interruptions, Tsunoda was further down the order and confessed that he found the RB21 car difficult to manage.
Tsunoda mentioned that the first practice session was better than expected and a positive start for him.
Regarding the second practice, he acknowledged that he didn`t even set a proper lap time and there`s a lot of work ahead.
He added that maybe he struggled a bit or there are aspects to analyze in the data from the second practice. Overall, it was acceptable, and he needs to gain more confidence.
Tsunoda had previously mentioned that he enjoyed driving the RB21 on the simulator and believed it could suit his driving style.
However, he noted that the real car felt different from the simulator, even more so than expected, and described it as feeling trickier.
Verstappen Echoes Car Handling Concerns
Tsunoda wasn`t the only one experiencing difficulties. Max Verstappen also struggled with the car`s setup and finished the second practice session in eighth place.
The difficulties at Red Bull were highlighted by the fact that both Racing Bulls cars outperformed the main Red Bull team in the second practice. Isack Hadjar was third, and Lawson was fifth upon returning to Racing Bulls.
Verstappen commented that the day was chaotic with red flags and challenging for him. He explained that they tried various adjustments to the car, but many things weren`t quite working, making it hard to set a good lap time.
He emphasized the need for confidence and commitment at the Suzuka circuit, which he currently felt he lacked, indicating more work is needed.
Despite Verstappen`s ability to usually maximize the car`s potential, demonstrated by his initial race results this season, he seemed less likely to challenge McLaren`s strong pace at Suzuka this weekend.
Horner Highlights Tsunoda`s Promising Start
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner commented after the first practice that Tsunoda had a promising start with the team.
Horner clarified that Tsunoda`s close performance to Verstappen in the first practice wasn`t due to different engine modes, confirming they were using identical settings.
He viewed it as a positive beginning for Tsunoda, acknowledging his circuit knowledge and clear feedback.
Horner mentioned it`s just the beginning for Tsunoda with the team, with much more to explore.
While using the same engine mode, Horner suggested they might adjust Tsunoda`s car setup to improve driveability, possibly differing from Verstappen`s setup.
Addressing the challenges faced by Verstappen`s teammates over time, Horner suggested the need for a different car setup approach.
He pointed out Verstappen`s unique ability to extract lap time from the car, something not consistently replicated by other drivers.
Therefore, Horner proposed providing a more predictable and confidence-inspiring car for the second driver, even if it might not be the absolute quickest setup, to enhance driver comfort and performance.
