Yuki Tsunoda stuns in his debut Free Practice session for Red Bull Racing, while timing bugs, telemetry insights, and team dynamics dominate the conversation.
A Grand Homecoming
The sun rose over Suzuka with more than cherry blossoms in bloom—Yuki Tsunoda took to the track for the first time as a Red Bull Racing driver in front of his home crowd, and by the end of FP1, he’d earned every decibel of applause.
Clocking in a 1:29.172 lap, Tsunoda slotted into P6, just 0.107s behind Max Verstappen, who ended P5. The session was topped by Lando Norris (1:28.549), followed by George Russell (+0.163) and Charles Leclerc (+0.416).
But the leaderboard was only part of the story.
Early Hype, Earned
Fans and analysts alike entered FP1 cautiously optimistic. But by the halfway mark, hype had already given way to admiration. Tsunoda’s maturity on radio, clean laps, and performance under pressure instantly sparked comparisons to Verstappen—not just on the timesheet, but in demeanor.
“To be a tenth off Max in your first hour in the RB21 is kinda wild,” one fan noted. Others simply declared: “Yuki GOAT.”
Amid cheers and emojis, caution still lingered. Many reminded themselves: “It’s only practice, it’s only practice…”
The Sector Shuffle
A breakdown of the best sector times added dimension to Tsunoda’s performance:
- S1: Norris (30.820), Alonso (30.895), Russell (30.902)
- S2: Norris (40.108), Russell (40.141), Leclerc (40.275)
- S3: Antonelli (17.393), Sainz (17.463), Verstappen (17.496)
Tsunoda didn’t top a sector but had one of the most consistent runs of the session, ranking fifth in ideal lap time—ahead of Verstappen.
Telemetry Tales: Verstappen vs. Tsunoda
Data comparison added even more intrigue:
| Driver | Lap Time | Full Throttle | Heavy Braking | Cornering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verstappen | 1:29.065 | 68x | 9x | 23x |
| Tsunoda | 1:29.172 | 66x | 11x | 23x |
While Verstappen’s lap was cleaner, Tsunoda appeared more aggressive in braking. His ability to manage the car’s instability while pushing hard through Suzuka’s technical sectors hinted at a developing synergy with the RB21.
A Broader Context
Elsewhere, Hirakawa quietly impressed in the Alpine (taking over Jack Doohan’s seat) and finished P12, earning admiration from Super Formula fans and F1 watchers alike. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli grabbed headlines not just for going P9, but for receiving a €100 fine for pitlane speeding. “Not the first teenager to get a speeding ticket,” fans joked.
Isack Hadjar, too, drew positive notice for going P8 in the VCARB.
Broadcasting Blunders
Not everything was smooth off track. Viewers were quick to notice the absence of lap times on the broadcast tower for most of the session. From tyre compound mislabels to glitched graphics, fans voiced growing frustration: “Ticker has been broken a lot,” one noted. “Somebody new on the job being paid way less than the last guy they fired,” joked another.
Hopium Flowing
With Yuki Tsunoda performing beyond expectations in just his first session, fans are already daring to dream. “It’s only practice, but I’ve seen enough,” wrote one. Others are holding back, afraid to jinx a potential fairytale at Suzuka. “Please don’t be like the Ferrari hype train.”
One thing is certain: the Yuki hype train has left the station—and it may be running on Shinkansen rails.
Top 10 – FP1 Classification
- Norris – 1:28.549
- Russell – +0.163
- Leclerc – +0.416
- Hamilton – +0.502
- Verstappen – +0.516
- Tsunoda – +0.623
- Alonso – +0.673
- Hadjar – +0.676
- Antonelli – +0.735
- Sainz – +0.784
See you in FP2.