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Tsunoda says experience the only thing holding him back from beating Verstappen

The Japanese Red Bull driver says he's not yet relaxed or fully in control behind the wheel of the notoriously tricky RB21

Emily Selleck Filip Cleeren
Edited:

Yuki Tsunoda is on a mission to close the Formula 1 experience gap between himself and team-mate Max Verstappen.

The recently-promoted Red Bull driver said the RB21 is particularly tricky to drive without prior experience, which gives Verstappen a major advantage. 

“I’m quite happy with my confidence level considering we’re only two races in, but I'm trying to understand how this car operates … [because] I'm not fully understanding even half of it yet,” Tsunoda told reporters in Jeddah on Thursday. 

The Japanese driver has set realistic short-term goals for himself, but is confident he could challenge the four-time world champion if he had the same level of confidence behind the wheel. 

“I know that I can't beat him straight away, so I'm just trying to build a good baseline and wait for the moments that I can be in [good] shape,” Tsunoda said.

“It comes down to the experience really, this car behaves quite differently at each track so it’s hard to predict.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“Max understands it quite well and the engineers understand it from their experience at previous grands prix. So, they can explain it to me in words, but I don't understand exactly what that feels like in the car.

“I just have to take time and build it up. When I unlock that area, I would probably be able to beat him.”

In the meantime, Tsunoda admitted he still has a lot to learn after spending four years at Red Bull’s junior team.

“I’m not fully relaxing driving this car - I’m still rushing and not fully in control yet,” he said.

“I know how Max builds his confidence throughout the week compared to how I build confidence and it's completely different. He can feel more than I can in the car and he has so much confidence in it.”

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Thursday

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Architectural details in the Paddock

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

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A detailed view of the winner's trophy

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
,Paul Aron, Alpine F1

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
George Russell, Mercedes

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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Zak Brown, McLaren

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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Carlos Sainz, Williams

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Jack Doohan, Alpine

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Karun Chandhok

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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, Laurent Mekies, RB F1 Team

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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A helicopter flies over during sunset

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

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Alex Albon, Williams

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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