Yuki Tsunoda is targeting a podium finish in his home race in the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix this weekend after securing a seat at Red Bull Racing, Afrosport reports.
Tsunoda was promoted from sister team Racing Bulls after Liam Lawson struggled in the first two races in Australia and China and will partner reigning champion Max Verstappen.
The 24-year-old has already sampled the car in a simulator and also drove Red Bull’s 2024 challenger in Abu Dhabi last year.
Tsunoda will be put under pressure to deliver instantly but admitted that it will take time for him to get used to his new surroundings at Milton-Keynes.
“I don’t want to get my expectations too high, but first and foremost, I want to get on the podium at the Japanese GP,” he said per by Motorsport.com Japan.
“However, I don’t think it will go so well from the start, so I need to understand the car first, and gradually check how it compares to the Racing Bulls’ car from FP1. Once I can naturally enjoy driving it, I think the results will follow. If that result is a podium, that would be fantastic.”
He further added: “I never thought I’d be racing for Red Bull at the Japanese GP.
“I’m happy, but I also feel like the team is changing.
“But when you think about it, it’s not realistic to suddenly be racing [with Red Bull] at the Japanese GP. When I first heard about it, I thought, ‘Wow, this is going to be interesting.’
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a more pressured and challenging situation in my life, so I think it’s going to be an incredibly exciting race.”
See you soon, RB21 👀 pic.twitter.com/zQzWvjfhDs
— Oracle Red Bull Racing | オラクル・レッドブルレーシング (@redbullracing) March 31, 2025
The RB21 has developed a reputation for being a tricky to drive, however, Verstappen has finished second and fourth in the opening two races while Tsunoda finished 12th and 16th in the Racing Bulls.
