Yuki Tsunoda Adjusts To New Role At Red Bull Racing

Yuki Tsunoda has stepped into the role of Red Bull's second driver, replacing Liam Lawson. Team principal Christian Horner notes that Tsunoda is adapting well to his new position. Previously with Racing Bulls, Tsunoda was chosen after Lawson's underwhelming performance in the season's initial races. At the Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda secured 12th place, outperforming Lawson by five positions.

Christian Horner praised Tsunoda's integration into the team, highlighting his strong feedback and performance. "He's settled into the team. He's given very good feedback. His P1 was very strong, P3 was fine," Horner stated. During Q1, Tsunoda was just a tenth behind Max Verstappen. However, in Q2, he made an error while entering Turn 1 at a speed 15kph faster than ever before.

Tsunoda acknowledged that qualifying impacted his race outcome since overtaking opportunities were scarce. He believes a better qualifying position could have led to a higher finish. Red Bull is focusing on the drivers' title this year rather than the constructors' championship. This strategy requires Tsunoda to match Verstappen's pace closely for strategic advantages.

Liam Lawson had previously criticised the Red Bull car for its challenging handling. In contrast, Tsunoda expressed confidence in his growing understanding of the vehicle. "I am happy considering the amount of time I had in the car," Tsunoda mentioned. He appreciates having Max Verstappen as a teammate to learn from and looks forward to maintaining his progress.

Upcoming Opportunities

Tsunoda is set to compete in the Bahrain Grand Prix next, where he debuted in Formula One with a ninth-place finish in 2021. This race presents another chance for him to showcase his skills and continue building on his experience with Red Bull Racing.

The focus remains on ensuring that every race contributes positively towards achieving their goals for this season.