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Motorsport

FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Tsunoda says experience the only thing holding him back from beating verstappen | History Defined

Yuki Tsunoda Max Verstappen Red Bull Red Bull Racing

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 (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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Architectural details in the Paddock

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Pedro de la Rosa of Spain, Aston Martin F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Karun Chandhok

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

A helicopter flies over during sunset

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Sunset atmosphere

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Thursday

Formula 1

58

In this article

Emily Selleck

Formula 1

Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull Racing

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