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Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Red Bull Breakthrough: ‘Now It All Clicks’
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Highlights
- Yuki Tsunoda showed progress in long-run pace at Baku practice.
- Tsunoda finished 13th in second Baku practice session.
- He admitted short-run pace still needs significant improvement.
- Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar rumored to replace Tsunoda post-season.
- Red Bull currently fourth in constructors’ standings with 239 points.
- Tsunoda aims to improve qualifying to secure future at Red Bull.
Yuki Tsunoda signals a step forward with Red Bull’s RB21 after Friday practice in Baku, ending FP2 13th. He reports stronger long-run pace, while one-lap speed remains the clear weakness.
The Japanese driver has scored seven points since joining the team this year, putting his seat under scrutiny amid rumours that Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar could replace him post-season.
Tsunoda says Friday’s programme prioritises high-fuel running. He describes the long-run as the best of his season so far, though short-run execution and braking confidence still need work.
“So far, it’s working. Now it makes sense,” Tsunoda says of the long-run gains.
Baku demands stability under heavy braking and traction from slow corners, with gusty winds complicating balance. The RB21’s improved long-run suggests tyre management gains and a more predictable rear.
Qualifying remains the limiter. Tsunoda has reached Q3 twice in the last ten races, and Baku’s long straights punish drag and brake instability when extracting one-lap peak grip.
Only two Q3 appearances in the last ten races underline Tsunoda’s qualifying deficit.
Team context sharpens the picture. Red Bull holds fourth on 239 points behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Interest in Verstappen’s future with the team continues as he leads on 230.
Red Bull sits fourth on 239 points, with Verstappen on 230 leading the charge.
If the long-run holds up, strategy becomes an ally. Tyre offset, undercuts, and safety-car windows can recover ground, but starting outside the top ten narrows tactical freedom.
Looking ahead, consistency across Singapore and Austin will test whether this approach is repeatable. That matters within evolving auto racing industry trends that reward execution and adaptability.
Pressure remains. Internal options such as Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar raise the stakes, making Saturday’s qualifying the clearest indicator of whether progress converts to job security.
Sustained long-run pace offers an offset, but qualifying will decide whether Tsunoda can capitalise in Baku.
Paddock context shifts quickly across types of motorsports, but in F1 the immediate currency remains qualifying performance and race execution.
Visual Summary
Tsunoda Finds Hope in Long Runs
🕑 P13 in Baku Practice
Improved Long Run Pace
7pts – Fighting for his seat
“It’s getting there, lap by lap.” – Yuki Tsunoda
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
