{"id":32309,"date":"2025-04-03T03:52:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T07:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=32309"},"modified":"2025-04-03T03:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T07:52:43","slug":"tsunoda-already-experimenting-with-rb21-set-up-ahead-of-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/04\/03\/tsunoda-already-experimenting-with-rb21-set-up-ahead-of-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Tsunoda already experimenting with RB21 set-up ahead of Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Joining Red Bull is a significant occasion for any F1 driver, but the pressure <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/04\/02\/tsunoda-not-intimidated-by-different-rb21-after-first-indications\/\" target=\"_self\">Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> faces this weekend is unprecedented. Without completing a single lap in pre-season, Tsunoda must acclimatise to the highly unpredictable RB21 and deliver a strong start on home soil.<\/p>\n<p>With only a few tenths covering the field in qualifying, the 24-year-old has no margin for error.<\/p>\n<p>Given that <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/04\/02\/liam-lawson-i-didnt-have-enough-time-at-red-bull\/\" target=\"_self\">Liam Lawson<\/a> failed to reach even Q2, Tsunoda would earn praise across the paddock if he can compete for the top 10 this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the large challenge he faces, the Japanese driver believes he has done productive work in the simulator.<\/p>\n<h2>Yuki Tsunoda reveals extensive work with Red Bull engineers<\/h2>\n<p>Since Pierre Gasly&#8217;s departure from VCARB, Tsunoda has been the lead driver at the Faenza-based operation.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to scoring the majority of the team&#8217;s points, he has also acted as an important baseline for new arrivals &#8211; from Liam Lawson to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/12\/13\/daniel-ricciardo-is-a-2026-f1-return-possible\/\" target=\"_self\">Daniel Ricciardo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tsunoda has developed a reputation for being highly competent at set-up work and optimising his machinery.<\/p>\n<p>Considering the range of teammates he&#8217;s worked with, it can be of little surprise the 24-year-old has picked up various insights in recent seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull are optimistic that his perspective can help <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/31\/yuki-tsunoda-gives-positive-feedback-after-rb21-simulator-session\/\" target=\"_self\">unlock some performance from the RB21<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"0aog7W9NTcd-I77CR_OxaQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2208236715\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'0aog7W9NTcd-I77CR_OxaQ',sig:'6rOapD29ASMq6kX9Sc5DZ5_91TAulTtKbaZu1e1Zet4=',w:'594px',h:'379px',items:'2208236715',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Should Tsunoda demonstrate an ability to navigate Red Bull&#8217;s 2025 challenger, he can give himself a platform to build upon this season.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to the media in Japan, he explained some of his initial conclusions about the RB21:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Yeah, I mean, I just felt the car in the simulator.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Obviously, I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s not fully correct in terms of the trickiness of the car.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;But at least it didn&#8217;t feel crazy, crazy tricky.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;But at the same time, I could feel what the drivers were mentioning instability and driver confidence things,&#8221;<\/em> Tsunoda added.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;I tried different set-ups, multiple set-ups I wanted to try to make it a little bit better.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Actually, those two days were pretty productive, and at least I know now where I want to start.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;That seems to be also a good baseline for overall performance as well.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;So yeah, I think it was really really good simulator sessions.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"l_O4FZWqR-9ebxvMJO48yA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2208236648\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'l_O4FZWqR-9ebxvMJO48yA',sig:'Mhin8UXHj2Vr8VdjQZ1C110qbZuAP11QkybAKGtVOXw=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2208236648',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>A strong start is essential<\/h4>\n<p>As is often the case in Formula 1, narratives can be established very quickly and take a long time to reverse.<\/p>\n<p>The topic of Tsunoda&#8217;s team radio, for example, should have been relic from a handful of sessions in his rookie campaign.<\/p>\n<p>However, his radio communication has persisted as a subject of focus for several years &#8211; despite his rarely consisting of anything extraordinary compared to other drivers.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar fashion, a competitive start in Japan could give Tsunoda some much-needed breathing space for the next few rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Provided he can demonstrate a clear step forward compared to Lawson and indeed <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/28\/sergio-perez-in-talks-for-f1-comeback-in-2026\/\" target=\"_self\">Sergio Perez<\/a> (by making Q3 and competing with other front-runners), he will cement himself as Red Bull&#8217;s best option for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, like teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/31\/max-verstappen-exit-clauses-put-red-bull-under-pressure\/\" target=\"_self\">Max Verstappen<\/a>, he will be dependent on Red Bull&#8217;s development rectifying some of the RB21&#8217;s shortcomings.<\/p>\n<p>Still, a solid start and decent points haul over the next few weeks could be pivotal in kick-starting Tsunoda&#8217;s Red Bull career.<\/p>\n<p>He was relatively pleased after his post-season test in the RB20 last year, describing the car as relatively compatible to his driving style.<\/p>\n<p>If this translates into Red Bull&#8217;s 2025 challenger, it will justify <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/04\/02\/christian-horner-red-bull-engineers-expressed-lawson-concern\/\" target=\"_self\">Christian Horner&#8217;s decision<\/a> to promote him so early in the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joining Red Bull is a significant occasion for any F1 driver, but the pressure Yuki Tsunoda faces this weekend is unprecedented. Without completing a single lap in pre-season, Tsunoda must acclimatise to the highly unpredictable RB21 and deliver a strong start on home soil. With only a few tenths covering the field in qualifying, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4927,"featured_media":32313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[2452,234,78,1581],"class_list":["post-32309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1","category-news","tag-f1-2025-season","tag-japanese-grand-prix","tag-red-bull-racing","tag-yuki-tsunoda"],"modified_by":"Jaden Diaz-Ndisang","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4927"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32318,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32309\/revisions\/32318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}