Yuki Tsunoda completed a successful and long-awaited maiden run behind the wheel of Red Bull’s RB20 during Tuesday’s post-season test at Yas Marina, revealing that he quickly adapted to the car, despite its distinct differences compared to his usual drive.
The Japanese driver, who ambitions to step up from Visa Cash App RB to Red Bull, had previously only experienced Red Bull machinery in the outfit’s simulator at Milton Keynes.
But his first on-track outing with the team was an encouraging one. Tsunoda was full of praise for the car’s performance, even as he acknowledged the differences between the RB20 and the VCARB 01 he raced this season.
"You can physically feel why the RB20 has been fighting for a championship this year, it feels like a very different car to drive," he said.
Despite the challenges of adapting to a new car, Tsunoda expressed his satisfaction with the test and was visibly upbeat after a productive day.
"We have had a very proactive day today so I am really happy with that. There is still a lot of learning that I have to do, but the team have done a great job of preparing such a great run today.
“It's been such an enjoyable atmosphere in the garage.”
Tsunoda felt that his driving style seemed well-suited to the characteristics of the RB20.
"I feel like the car suits my driving style and I haven't struggled much at all to adapt," he added.
"Even on the long runs I have been able to run consistently today and was able to feel the limitations of the car which, if you don't have confidence in the car, you are unable to test.
"I am happy more than ever at the moment, and making sure that the team have the information that they require from each run was the most important thing to get out of today."
The positive impressions left by Tsunoda during the test could play a significant role in his future with Red Bull as the 24-year-old charger is cited, along with his RB teammate Liam Lawson, as Sergio Perez’s most likely successor .
While Red Bull has previously raised concerns about Tsunoda’s temperament and technical feedback, his performance on Tuesday caught the eye of Ben Waterhouse, Red Bull’s head of performance.
“We had Yuki in our car for the first time and Isack [Hadjar] driving RB20 again following his recent outing in FP1 at the race weekend,” Waterhouse explained.
“We successfully completed the priority test items on both cars with both drivers performing to a very high level and delivering exactly what we anticipated from them.”
Waterhouse also praised Tsunoda’s valuable contributions during the test.
"Yuki provided excellent feedback on the various tests performed on the 2025 Pirelli tyres offering valuable insight on the tyre changes Pirelli will introduce for next year," he noted.
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