Tsunoda put in the miles ahead of Canadian GP milestone

Yuki Tsunoda is leaving no stone unturned ahead of a landmark moment in his Formula 1 career this weekend in Montreal. 

As he gears up for his 100th Grand Prix start in Canada, the Japanese driver has thrown himself into extensive preparation — both on track and in the simulator — in a bid to bounce back from a challenging start with Red Bull Racing.

The Montreal race marks Tsunoda’s eighth appearance with the senior Red Bull team, following his transfer from Racing Bulls after the Chinese Grand Prix. But since stepping into one of the most scrutinized seats in the sport, Tsunoda has struggled to find his footing, collecting just 10 points – a stark contrast to teammate Max Verstappen’s consistent podium performances.

Despite the rocky start, Tsunoda says recent testing and simulator work have provided a welcome boost heading into the weekend.

“I had two solid days of testing in Barcelona following the race and have been on the sim in Milton Keynes too, so we have been working hard together and I have a lot more miles under my belt in a Red Bull Racing car now,” Tsunoda said in Red Bull’s Canadian Grand Prix preview.

Qualifying Woes and a Fresh Approach

One of the key areas Tsunoda is targeting for improvement is qualifying – a phase of the weekend that has consistently hampered his race prospects. Since joining Red Bull, he’s reached Q3 just three times, often finding himself buried in the midfield.

“After Spain, we must execute a better qualifying and we have put the work in to do that,” he admitted.

But it's not just about lap time. Tsunoda hinted that Red Bull is allowing him more freedom to experiment with setup choices as he adapts to the notoriously sensitive RB21 chassis — something he believes could finally turn the tide.

“Something that we are planning for Canada, things that we would like to try,” he revealed in Barcelona last time out.

“I’m happy that they fully agree with that and make the effort to give me something that I want to try.”

It’s a positive sign for the 24-year-old, who was initially overlooked for the Red Bull seat in favour of Liam Lawson before the Kiwi’s shaky form opened the door.

With his former Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar now impressing, the pressure on Tsunoda to deliver is quietly building.

100 Races and Counting

Whatever happens in Montreal, the Canadian GP is a moment of personal significance for Tsunoda. He becomes the first Japanese driver in F1 history to reach 100 Grands Prix – a milestone that few saw coming when he debuted with AlphaTauri in 2021.

• Read also: Marko blames Tsunoda for Red Bull ‘writing off’ 2025 title

“[It] feels a bit crazy,” Tsunoda said about hitting triple digits. “It feels like I just started but also feels like this has always been my life.

“Every one of those 100 races has felt special and I feel lucky to be in the sport and I would love to mark my 100th race with a result to match the occasion.”

With 101 career points and a best finish of fourth at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Tsunoda still has much to prove, but he remains determined to make his mark in Montreal, both as a driver and as a symbol of Japanese persistence in Formula 1.

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