BREAKING:Tsunoda Prepares for ‘Emotional’ Red Bull Debut at…read more 

BREAKING:Tsunoda Prepares for ‘Emotional’ Red Bull Debut at…read more

Yuki Tsunoda is set to make his highly anticipated debut with Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, ahead of what he describes as an “emotional” race at his home circuit in Suzuka. The 24-year-old Japanese driver has been promoted from Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, to the main Red Bull team, where he will race alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. This move comes after Liam Lawson was relegated back to the junior team following a challenging start to the 2025 season.

Tsunoda, who has spent five years with Racing Bulls, has long been a standout performer. Despite consistently outpacing his teammates, including Lawson, many fans were left shocked when Red Bull initially passed over him for a top seat. However, after his recent promotion, Tsunoda is now focused on delivering strong performances for the team.

In a recent media appearance at the Honda Welcome Plaza in Tokyo, Tsunoda discussed the immense pressure he’s facing ahead of his debut. While excited, he tempered expectations for his home race: “I don’t want to create too many expectations, but I want to aim for the podium in Japan. That being said, I know it won’t be easy at first,” he stated.

The Japanese driver also acknowledged the challenge of mastering the Red Bull RB21, a car he’s still learning to adapt to. “My priority is to understand the car, comparing it to the Racing Bulls. If I can enjoy the experience, I believe the results will follow,” Tsunoda explained.

Reflecting on the significance of racing for Red Bull at Suzuka, Tsunoda admitted it felt surreal. “I never expected to race for Red Bull at Suzuka, especially with this being the last year of collaboration between Red Bull and Honda. It’s like fate that everything has aligned perfectly for me to be here,” he said, adding that the occasion will be deeply emotional for him. “It’s rare to have such an important opportunity, and with all the pressure, it will definitely be an emotional race.”

To mark Honda’s final home race with Red Bull, the team will be running their iconic all-white livery, a throwback to the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix. The combination of the iconic livery and Tsunoda’s long-awaited promotion is set to make this debut race one of the most memorable moments of his career.