Yuki Tsunoda

Date of birth: 11.5.2000
Nationality: Japanese
F1 debut: 2021
Success: 12th (2024)

The Japanese youngster entered the pinnacle of motorsport in 2021 as a highly rated talent. However, his debut season was marked by frequent mistakes and undisciplined behavior. While his 2022 campaign wasn’t spectacular, he did show improvement and closed the gap to his more experienced teammate, Pierre Gasly.

In 2023, after Gasly’s departure, Tsunoda took on a leadership role at the Faenza-based team, which rebranded as RB (Racing Bulls) for 2024. He was paired with the returning Daniel Ricciardo, and the pressure was on—Tsunoda needed to prove he belonged in F1 long-term.

In 2024, Yuki Tsunoda rose to the occasion, consistently outperforming Daniel Ricciardo, who was eventually replaced by Liam Lawson later in the season. Although Red Bull initially considered Tsunoda for a promotion, they ultimately chose Lawson instead. However, that decision was short-lived, as Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix to partner Max Verstappen.