Yuki Tsunoda left in awe by Max Verstappen’s Red Bull dominance at the Japanese Grand Prix
Yuki Tsunoda’s debut with Red Bull at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix has sent shockwaves through the F1 world, as the Japanese driver expressed his astonishment at the incredible skills of Max Verstappen behind the wheel of the championship-winning RB21.
Stepping up from the Racing Bulls team, Tsunoda faced a steep learning curve in mastering the precision and control required to handle the aggressive RB21. Despite a challenging weekend at Suzuka, where he faced limited practice time and a struggle with tyre warm-up in qualifying, Tsunoda made a surprising revelation about Verstappen’s unmatched level of performance.
In a post-race analysis, Tsunoda disclosed that due to his limited time in the car, he had to align his set-up philosophy closer to Verstappen’s – a decision that both impressed and startled him. Tsunoda admitted, “Actually, we went to Max’s side rather than my set-up, which I thought would be good. Surprisingly, I’m able to drive quite well, so I’m happy with it so far.”
Moreover, Tsunoda’s simulator work between China and Japan helped him prepare for the switch to Red Bull. However, he still marveled at Verstappen’s preference for an unstable rear set-up, stating, “It’s incredible how he’s able to cope with that kind of set-up.”
Beyond technical aspects, Tsunoda highlighted a significant cultural shift at Red Bull compared to Racing Bulls, emphasizing that the responsibility for tyre warm-up strategy lies more in the hands of the driver. This shift challenges Tsunoda to adapt to a system where the team provides fewer instructions, trusting the driver to fine-tune their own preparation – a skill that Verstappen has honed over his nine years with Red Bull.
As the 2025 season intensifies, all eyes are on Tsunoda to see how quickly he can narrow the gap to the reigning champion. With his performance in Japan showcasing adaptability and maturity crucial for success at Red Bull, Tsunoda’s ability to harness Verstappen’s set-up may prove to be his ultimate test on the road to greatness.
