Yuki Tsunoda shares "mixed feelings" after first race with Red Bull: "Was expecting more"
Yuki Tsunoda reflects on his first home race as a Red Bull F1 driver.
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda has reflected on his first home race as a Red Bull Racing driver. Although he felt more confident in the car, he shared his "mixed feelings" after failing to finish within the points.
While speaking to the media after his 12th-place finish, Tsunoda explained:
"I'm happy with the race, in terms of my performance, but obviously, in terms of results, it's quite tough, especially for my home Grand Prix.
"I was definitely expecting more, and you know, at least I wanted to finish in a point, so it's mixed feelings.
When asked how confident he was feeling about beginning to understand the RB21 and closing the gap to his team-mate Verstappen, the 24-year-old added:
"The 53, 54 laps I got in this race was the most laps I had in this car. Every lap I was learning, and finally, I got decent laps in the car, and I definitely feel more confidence in the car. I just feel overall controlled more towards the end of the race.
"I'm happy considering the amount of time I had, but because of [it being my] home Grand Prix, I just wanted to finish in the points. I just have to build the pace. It's fortunate that there's Max that I can learn from. So I just keep doing what I'm doing. I'm excited for Bahrain actually."
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Tsunoda's new team-mate Verstappen secured the victory in Suzuka and was joined by the McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the podium, who finished in second and third, respectively.
Red Bull promoted Tsunoda into the team after just two races of the 2025 season, replacing rookie Liam Lawson, who moved into Racing Bulls. The Japanese driver now looks ahead to the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix taking place over the next couple of weeks with the hopes of making progress with the RB21.
Photos from Japanese GP - Race
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Sunday
Share Or Save This Story
Lando Norris to join Valentino Rossi at 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Serena Williams celebrates Lewis Hamilton after milestone Ferrari F1 win
Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari win celebrations spill into the streets in Italy
Yuki Tsunoda deserves a return to full-time racing, says Laurent Mekies
Christian Horner: Liam Lawson-Yuki Tsunoda swap "wasn't my choice" in 2025
Yuki Tsunoda escapes as Red Bull F1 car bursts into flames during San Francisco demo run
"I'm not a machine": Isack Hadjar blasts Red Bull start procedure
Oscar Piastri "could not believe" Pierre Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement
Is Red Bull a victim of F1's ADUO system? The surprising results explained
Leonardo Fornaroli set for Haas F1 test at Jerez
Lando Norris to join Valentino Rossi at 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed
How a Mercedes pit stop error "compromised" George Russell’s Barcelona GP
Notebooks and no-nonsense: How "very interesting" Fornaroli impressed Stella in Barcelona
Notebooks and no-nonsense: How "very interesting" Fornaroli impressed Stella in Barcelona
What next for Honda now its engine is confirmed as F1's weakest?
What were the chances of Hamilton winning in Barcelona without the virtual safety car?
Can Lewis Hamilton now fight for the F1 world title with Ferrari? Our writers have their say
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments