Yuki Tsunoda reports Racing Bulls has been “pretty impressed” with his rapid adaptation to the 2026-spec machinery as he steps in for Liam Lawson at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Lawson’s injury during the summer break paved the way for Tsunoda’s opportunity during the Zandvoort sprint weekend, despite the Japanese driver’s unfamiliarity with the new car generation.
Now closing the performance gap with rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, Tsunoda narrowed his qualifying deficit from 0.825s to just 0.102s across successive sessions, finishing 11.5 seconds behind in the sprint race.
“Honestly, I’m super happy,” Tsunoda shared. “Yesterday’s qualifying was okay, but I didn’t know the limits yet—the car was still fresh. Today’s session felt more professional, allowing me to push harder in corners.”
He emphasized, “I know where I can improve more, but I missed this thrilling chase for milliseconds—it’s exactly what I enjoy.”
Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
F1’s 2026 machinery demands advanced energy management alongside revised chassis and aerodynamics—challenges Tsunoda acknowledges but embraces.
“It’s a different car entirely,” he explained. “Braking feels different—my first sprint in the simulator made me crash into the wall! The pressure limits, downforce behavior, and energy deployment all require new strategies.”
The sprint race let him refine start procedures while gathering crucial experience.
“Every lap taught me something,” he noted. “This progress in qualifying shows I’m adapting faster than expected.”
Though missing Q3 by 0.1s, Tsunoda believed the team was satisfied with his incremental improvements across sessions.
“The team wanted both cars in Q3,” he said with a laugh. “But from yesterday’s progress, they’re clearly impressed with my steps forward—we’ll see how they react today.”