Tsunoda shines bright after practice session: 'Positive start for Yuki'

06:29, 04 Apr

bySavannah Lenz

Yuki Tsunoda had an excellent first free practice session with his new team, finishing only one position behind Max Verstappen. Verstappen finished 5th, with Tsunoda only three-tenths off in 6th. After the session, team principal Christian Horner praised Tsunoda.

Regarding Tsunoda's practice session performance, he told Sky Sports, “Look, it was certainly a good start for Yuki. Settling into the car pretty well. Obviously quite a different feel probably to what he's used to, but I thought he settled in, he gave very good feedback and now both drivers are working away to improve the car for the next session.”

Red Bull Racing brought three upgrades to Suzuka, including a new exhaust for both Tsunoda and Verstappen.

When asked if Tsunoda and Verstappen were on different set-ups, Horner said, “No, no, they were both identical engine modes. That's a positive start for Yuki. He knows the circuit very well here."

“His feedback is very clear, very concise in the car. It's just the start of his journey with the team and plenty to get into.”

Tsunoda himself mentioned at the beginning of the practice session that he was not pushing the car to its limits, but by the end of the session, he was adapting quickly to the car.

Tsunoda and Verstappen will head back out for free practice session two at 3 P.M. in Suzuka.