Yuki Tsunoda: Why he hopes for a breakthrough for Canada

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Since joining Red Bull's A-Team, Yuki Tsunoda has been under intense scrutiny. The 2025 Formula 1 season presents more than just sporting challenges for the Japanese driver. It demands adaptability, mental maturity, and technical dexterity. So far, he has fallen short of expectations.

Tsunoda has only scored points in three of nine races. The gap to teammate Max Verstappen is already 127 points. After a difficult weekend in Barcelona, ​​where he finished 13th, Tsunoda is now hoping for a turning point in Canada.

His summary after the race in Spain is clear: "It can't get any worse than this weekend, to be honest." Already on the way to the starting grid, he noticed that the car hadn't improved. The setup changes made at short notice had little effect.

"The last step didn't really bring much. But even though the pace wasn't at the level we were aiming for, it was okay compared to the midfield, and there was potential to get more out of it," believes Tsunoda.

However, the Red Bull driver doesn't mind starting from the pit lane: "It was probably better this way. At least it's something we can learn from. I'm grateful that the team was fully behind me and supported this setup change. But yes, ultimately, it just didn't feel that different."

Complete trust in the car is still missing

A central theme runs through Tsunoda's statements: the fact that he hasn't yet found his way into the Red Bull RB21. "With the previous car, I knew what was going on behind the scenes, how the car behaved. I was able to push it to its limits. But I don't completely trust the car yet. That's normal."

This uncertainty is particularly noticeable in qualifying, where a few hundredths of a second count. "Those few milliseconds, those few tenths, are quite crucial. And that's exactly what Max can get more out of than I can," he knows.

Nevertheless, Tsunoda sees some glimmers of hope: "It's been up and down, but I'm at least happy with the pace I'm showing—in a few sessions. I still have a lot of steps to take to get to Max's level. But in a few sessions, I've at least been able to keep up. It's been a mixed bag."

Canada as a glimmer of hope: Change planned

A possible key to improvement lies in the work in the simulator. But Tsunoda remains realistic: "In my view, the simulator is more for the team to test things we want to try out on the track. Time is very limited there anyway, so we can't test every setup."

"We want to explore a few things. Maybe my engineer will find a good direction or characteristic that suits my driving style," the Japanese looks ahead.

One thing is clear: Red Bull, in close consultation with Tsunoda, has planned a new direction for Canada. "It's something we want to try out in Canada. I'm happy that the team is fully on board and making an effort to provide me with something I want to test. Hopefully, it will make a difference."

When asked whether the Canadian track suits him or the car, the Red Bull driver said: "I don't know if I've scored any points there yet. Last year I was in the points until I spun in the final laps."

So his memory is mixed, but Tsunoda generally likes the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve: "It's a track I actually quite like."