Yuki Tsunoda feels ‘a rookie’ after his first day at Zandvoort. The Japanese driver had to prepare in a rush this week for his F1 comeback: during the Dutch GP he replaces Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls. During the sprint qualifying he made it to SQ2, where he joined Lawson on the sixth row of the grid. Still, he felt a bit unfamiliar in the VCARB 03, partly due to the brand new F1 regulations for him.
Earlier this week it was announced that Isack Hadjar has to give up his Red Bull seat during the Dutch GP to Lawson. The Parisian suffered a wrist injury during the summer break, making him unable to race. The New Zealander fills in at the main team, freeing up a temporary spot for Tsunoda at Racing Bulls. The Japanese driver has been a test and reserve driver for both teams since this year, but has not yet driven a meter with the new cars.
Rain creates a level playing field
After only one free practice, Tsunoda qualified twelfth on Friday for the sprint race at Zandvoort. The result surprised him somewhat, he admitted afterwards. “Especially due to the wet conditions, I was somewhat surprised by how much speed I had,” he responded positively. “In the end, rain is a bit new for everyone in 2026, so that made things a bit more equal.”
Still, the first competitive session brought some challenges for Tsunoda. “It is my first time in this car,” he added. “So under dry conditions I had to work harder. To be honest, everything feels a bit like I am a rookie. The brake pressure, to name one thing, is very different from previous years. In the end, I am quite satisfied with my performance in the sprint qualifying,” he assured. “Of course there are still a few things I can improve, but on days like this you just want to build up calmly.”
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‘I have to adapt quickly’
Racing Bulls often finished in the points before the summer break. Still, the team does not want to raise expectations too high. CEO Peter Bayer said earlier that the Japanese driver should consider the sprint sessions as free practice. Tsunoda, however, draws confidence from the fact that other drivers are also still unfamiliar with the car. “It is still early in the season, so – and this may not be entirely fair to say – most drivers still have some trouble with the balance and braking performance. Also, the amount of downforce is much lower.”
“I have to adapt quickly, but I drove last year’s car and that is probably one of the fastest cars ever,” Tsunoda explained. “It is very different now, so especially on circuits like this you have to build up gradually. For now, I am focused on Saturday’s qualifying.”
Read more Liam Lawson expected more from first Red Bull sessions: ‘Frustrating’
Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
