đź“· - Autosport
Following a dramatic early-season driver swap that saw Tsunoda promoted from Racing Bulls to replace the struggling Liam Lawson, the 24-year-old Japanese driver has boldly declared his ambition to secure a podium finish on home soil.
In his first public comments since the announcement, made during a Honda event in Tokyo, Tsunoda expressed a mix of disbelief and determination. Posts on X captured the sentiment, with one user, @LucianoYoma, sharing his words: “I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this Japanese Grand Prix I want to finish on the podium.”
This statement reflects both his ambition and a cautious realism about the challenges ahead. Another X user, @JunaidSamodien_, highlighted Tsunoda’s confidence in adapting to the new car: “Once I feel more comfortable and enjoy the car, I think the results will come quickly. If that means I’m on the podium, that would be fantastic.”
I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this Japanese Grand Prix I want to finish on the podium.
đź“· - F1 Oversteer
A podium at Suzuka would be monumental. No Japanese driver has achieved a top-three finish in F1 since Takuma Sato’s P3 at the 2004 United States Grand Prix, and none have done so at their home race since Kamui Kobayashi’s inspiring third place in 2012.
For Tsunoda, who scored a point at Suzuka in 2024 with Racing Bulls, the stakes are even higher now with Red Bull’s machinery beneath him. The RB21, though tricky to handle as evidenced by Lawson’s struggles, has shown podium potential in Verstappen’s hands, offering hope that Tsunoda can unlock its speed.
However, Tsunoda remains grounded. Speaking about his preparation, he emphasized the need to understand the car’s behavior compared to the Racing Bulls machine he’s accustomed to. “My priority is to first understand the car, how it behaves compared to the VCARB,” he said, as noted in X posts.
Simulator sessions have given him initial confidence—he described the RB21’s responsive front-end as manageable—but he acknowledges the leap from virtual to real-world racing will be a test.