Yuki Tsunoda, the rising star of Racing Bulls, has made a fantastic start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, securing an impressive fifth place in the qualifying round for the prestigious Australian Grand Prix. This remarkable achievement was not without a little assistance from the polesitter of the race, Lando Norris, a McLaren driver.
In a thrilling turn of events, Norris led the charge for the Woking-based racing team, with local hero Oscar Piastri clinching the second spot, followed closely by Max Verstappen in third place. However, Tsunoda’s entry into the top five, placing his VCARB 02 on the third row, undoubtedly stole the show.
Joining him in the top ranks was Alex Albon from Williams, as Tsunoda outperformed both Ferrari drivers, a testament to his growing prowess on the track. Isack Hadjar, Tsunoda’s teammate at Racing Bulls, finished at a respectable 11th position, marking a promising beginning to the season for the Faenza-based team.
Post-qualifying, a jubilant Tsunoda expressed his gratitude towards Norris, revealing how the British driver played a key role in his stellar lap. “I was able to make a step, session by session. I think the last lap was definitely the best quality lap out of any session so far. But also I got a bit of luck from Lando as well – a bit of tow into Turn 9 – I definitely appreciate that”, he shared with reporters, including those from Motorsport Week.
Tsunoda, who hails from Sagamihara, Japan, was overlooked by Red Bull for a seat next to reigning champion Verstappen. However, the impressive results from the qualifying rounds are bound to boost his confidence. Reflecting on his performance and the thrilling competition in the midfield, Tsunoda stated, “The more I build the pace, and you see in lap times, I’m able to improve session by session.”
As the team gears up for the main race, Tsunoda seems to be well-prepared for the predicted rainy weather. “Actually, we also prepared for the rain conditions as well. So to be honest, in terms of setup, it’s not 100% focused into the dry conditions. Even in rain conditions, we’re kind of confident,” he confidently stated, adding that the team had previously demonstrated a strong performance in intermediate weather conditions.
All eyes will now be on Tsunoda as he advances into the main event, with spectators eager to see if he can maintain his commendable performance under challenging conditions. Regardless of the outcome, his stunning start to the season has already made a significant impact on the world of Formula 1.