In the spotlight of his home circuit at Suzuka, Yuki Tsunoda delivered an impressive performance during his first outing with Red Bull Racing in Free Practice 1 (FP1), closing the gap to teammate and reigning champion Max Verstappen by just a tenth of a second.
As the engines roared to life at Suzuka, all attention was on the Red Bull pits. Yuki Tsunoda, in his long-awaited debut for Red Bull Racing, took to the track amidst the cheers of his home crowd. The Japanese sensation, competing in his first practice session with the team, aimed to make a strong impression, and he did not disappoint. With Liam Lawson stepping back into his role at Racing Bulls, fans were eager to see how Tsunoda would perform in the RB21.
The initial moments of the session saw Oliver Bearman taking the first step onto the circuit, but it was Tsunoda who captured the crowd’s attention. His home fans watched with bated breath as Tsunoda maneuvered the RB21 through the familiar bends of Suzuka. In a day full of hometown pride, he faced the pressure with composure and determination, sharing the track with fellow Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa of Alpine, who was also making an appearance.
The diverse tire strategies played a crucial role in the session dynamics. Max Verstappen quickly set the pace on soft compounds, clocking in at 1:30.7. This placed him marginally ahead of Fernando Alonso, who was utilizing hard tires, and Charles Leclerc, who opted for mediums. Verstappen widened his lead during his subsequent laps, showcasing his formidable pace.
While Bearman dealt with technical adjustments in the Haas garage, George Russell, undeterred, maneuvered past Verstappen to claim the top spot on the leaderboard. Tsunoda steadily improved his times, initially a second behind Verstappen, before narrowing the gap to just three-tenths. Despite Tsunoda’s progress, Verstappen faced his own set of challenges as he reported unsettling flexing issues with his car. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz encountered a moment of confusion in the pits, missing his bay entirely before regrouping to head back out on track.
As the session progressed, strategy shifts became evident. Russell briefly dominated with a 1:28.8, utilizing a fresh set of soft tires, but it was Lando Norris who ultimately claimed the fastest lap. Norris managed to navigate Suzuka with precision, clocking a time of 1:28.5. Meanwhile, Tsunoda continued to push hard, slotting into second before Verstappen edged past him by a tenth, an indication of the intense competition within the Red Bull team.
As the clock wound down, Tsunoda displayed consistency during his long runs, maintaining his competitive edge against his seasoned teammate. Though not faster than Verstappen on similar tire compounds, Tsunoda’s solid performance left a mark. McLaren’s Norris wrapped up the session with an assured lead, followed closely by Russell and Leclerc.
Yuki Tsunoda’s debut in FP1 at Suzuka was nothing short of impressive, as he managed to keep pace with the best in Formula 1. Holding his own against the likes of Verstappen and amidst the pressure of performing at home, Tsunoda’s performance has added another layer of excitement to the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. As the competition heats up, all eyes will remain on this rising star.
