Tsunoda says Red Bull’s RB21 is ‘like a science room’

Yuki Tsunoda has likened the Red Bull RB21 to “a science room with lots of chemicals” that sometimes “goes good” and other times “goes bad” – as the Japanese racer looks to tame the car at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Tsunoda made his long-awaited debut for Red Bull’s senior team on home soil at Suzuka, taking over from the demoted Liam Lawson, and he initially impressed alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen in practice.

It was more of a challenge come Qualifying, though, and after he dropped out at the Q2 stage, Tsunoda had to settle for 12th position on race day – admitting afterwards that it was a “pretty frustrating” outcome.

With the F1 paddock moving swiftly on to Sakhir and the Bahrain International Circuit, Tsunoda was asked what he learned from that weekend, how he has reset in the days since and the challenge that lies ahead.

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive on the — Tsunoda experienced a whirlwind weekend on home soil in Japan last time out

“[Compared to] Thursday [at the] same time last week, I’m much calmer now just naturally because of less [PR] activities, and I’m able to have a bit more time to think about the preparation and everything,” he said.

“Also, now I know how the car behaves, at least a little bit more than how I started last week. Everything [is] positive, a couple of modifications I’ve done to adjust a little bit more, the seat and everything, so I think we’ll be good.”

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Opening up on the RB21’s characteristics, Tsunoda added: “A lot of learning I did, but most of the learning I had is too early stages to conclude. I’ve just done four, five sessions, almost four sessions because of lots of red flags.

“I just need to do more laps, but the main learning in terms of car the set-up, I would say maybe I have to take a little bit of a different approach how I used to take in the Racing Bulls – the set-up I used to like, the car balance.

“I think the car is able to achieve the same balance that I used to have at Racing Bulls, but it not always helps the performance. I just have to dig in further, I just don’t know what set-up will make the car faster.

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“It feels like a science room with lots of chemicals where sometimes it goes good, sometimes it goes bad. I think it’s just natural, because jumping into a completely new car [there is] always this up and down.”

As his second weekend at the wheel approaches, Tsunoda set out clear goals for both Qualifying and the Grand Prix – with Red Bull yet to reach Q3 or score points beyond Verstappen’s car so far in 2025.

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“What I want to achieve this weekend is Q3 and points,” he stated. “I think as much as I want to say a podium or whatever, we know that the car is not easy to operate in a high performance window.

“I have to still learn about the car, so if I get points or [can] be closer to Max to be able to help him in the race, and go into Q3, that would be a good target.”