Despite missing points at Zandvoort, his impressive performance in an unfamiliar Racing Bulls car reignited hopes for a future Formula 1 seat.

Yuki Tsunoda delivered a compelling performance for Racing Bulls at the Dutch Grand Prix, placing eleventh at Zandvoort. While he didn't secure any points, this one-off appearance successfully put the young Japanese driver back on the Formula 1 radar after a challenging 2025 season with Red Bull.

His return to racing was particularly notable given the circumstances: it was a last-minute call-up, he drove an unfamiliar VCARB 03 car, and he hadn't competed in a Grand Prix since Abu Dhabi last December.

This strong showing serves as a vital calling card, reminding the paddock that Tsunoda is an experienced and highly qualified driver ready for a full-time F1 seat elsewhere, according to reporting by Formula 1 (site oficial).

Sharp Preparation and Unexpected Opportunity

Despite his time away from competitive racing, Yuki Tsunoda remained exceptionally sharp. He engaged in extensive Testing of Previous Car (TPC) runs in an older Red Bull chassis and spent considerable time in the Milton Keynes simulator, driving the current RB22. This simulator work also provided him with valuable insights into the upcoming 2026 Ford power unit.

The decision for him to race at Zandvoort came at the eleventh hour. Tsunoda only had the chance to try out the Racing Bulls' VCARB 03 in the simulator on the Wednesday preceding the race weekend, giving him a crucial head start before hitting the track.

After just a single hour of Free Practice 1, he was thrust directly into Sprint Qualifying, highlighting the immense pressure and limited preparation he faced for this crucial appearance.

Finding Form in Sprint and Grand Prix Qualifying

In Sprint Qualifying, Tsunoda initially placed P13 in SQ1 and then P12 in SQ2, closely trailing Liam Lawson, the driver he was deputizing for. He showed a delta of 0.360 seconds to his teammate Arvid Lindblad, which was commendable considering his lack of familiarity with the VCARB 03. Lindblad, however, was also new to the Zandvoort circuit.

The Sprint race saw Tsunoda finish P13 after losing a position to Franco Colapinto, but it provided invaluable learning experience. He also expressed relief that an early-corner tap with Lindblad didn't impede either Racing Bulls driver's progress.

His confidence grew significantly for Grand Prix Qualifying, where he secured P8 in Q1 and again P12 in Q2. This improved form was reflected in a much smaller gap of 0.102 seconds to his teammate in that session. “Honestly, I’m super happy,” Tsunoda stated. “Certainly, I enjoyed so much this Qualifying. Yesterday’s [Sprint] Qualifying was okay, but didn’t know where the limit was still, it was still a fresh car.”

He continued, “But this was a proper Qualifying, and I was able to trust more the car and throw the car into the corners. It’s still like a fourth session, and I know where I can improve much more. But honestly, I miss this kind of feeling, chasing the last few milliseconds, last few tenths – and I’m super enjoying it.” Tsunoda also confirmed the Sprint was crucial training: “It was very, very useful, certainly for the race, it was good that I had that before the race start.”

A Challenging Race for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort

For Racing Bulls, the primary objective at Zandvoort was to minimize any points loss against their closest rivals, Alpine. Unfortunately, both teams faced setbacks early on when Lindblad and Colapinto received drive-through penalties for passing under yellow flags during chaos involving Max Verstappen and Bortoleto in the opening lap. These unplanned early pit stops effectively removed them from points contention.

The race then evolved into a direct contest between Tsunoda and his former teammate Pierre Gasly, a battle that endured for much of the Grand Prix. At one point, Lindblad, who had stayed out longer, attempted to aid Tsunoda by keeping the Alpine behind him. Ultimately, however, Gasly demonstrated superior pace, securing P10 and the final championship point.

Reflecting on his return, Tsunoda remarked, “Honestly, I think I was able to progress faster than I expected. I drove only four times out of eight months since last year in Abu Dhabi, so with that, I did pretty well.” He credited Red Bull for keeping him prepared: “Thanks to Red Bull, they kept me pretty sharp with the simulator and those things. But certainly, I definitely enjoyed it overall, and yeah, I think I gave it 100%, as much as I can. I think I did pretty okay.”

Tsunoda acknowledged the steep learning curve: “The challenging part was pretty much everything, a lot of things learning about deployment, buttons, everything – every procedure is different.” He also highlighted the race's unique demands: “This race was challenging for degradation, degradation characteristics were a lot different, so hard to adapt. Honestly, the team supported me a lot and they made it easy for me to drive as fast as possible. Obviously it’s shame that I didn’t score points. But I take it, fighting against top eight, top nine, until the last few laps, I would say.”

Reigniting F1 Prospects Beyond Red Bull

Despite his strong showing, the opportunities for Yuki Tsunoda to secure a full-time Formula 1 race seat remain limited due to the competitive landscape. Within the Red Bull camp, talent like F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is waiting in the wings, making a return to a Red Bull-affiliated team challenging.

However, Tsunoda's performance at Zandvoort has undoubtedly improved his standing significantly with other teams on the grid. He now finds himself in a much better position than prior to the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

“I know what I can do,” Tsunoda asserted. “And I think I pretty much showed also what I can do to most of the paddock, with just one race, a couple of sessions. I was able to fight close to the points. I think the outcome was obviously better scoring points, but I think I did as much as I can for that.” He concluded with a hopeful message for potential employers: “It’s definitely better having this opportunity rather than not having any opportunity, not being able to show the paddock what I can do with these regulations. So I think that this was overall positive, and I think what performance I showed, I think, is positive. So it’s up to my manager, and also other teams who are not decided yet about the next year’s lineup, if they want to have me or not – but they should!”

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Yuki Tsunoda score points at the Dutch Grand Prix?

No, Yuki Tsunoda finished in P11 at the Dutch Grand Prix, just outside the points-scoring positions, while driving for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort.

Why was Yuki Tsunoda racing for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort?

Yuki Tsunoda made a one-off appearance for Racing Bulls at the Dutch Grand Prix, substituting for Liam Lawson. It was a last-minute decision, giving him limited preparation time in the VCARB 03 car.

How did Yuki Tsunoda prepare for his return to Formula 1?

Before the Dutch Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda kept sharp through Testing of Previous Car (TPC) runs in older Red Bull chassis and extensive simulator work. He also gained insights into the 2026 Ford power unit through simulator driving.

What does Yuki Tsunoda's Dutch GP performance mean for his F1 career?

His strong showing at Zandvoort significantly improved his standing within the F1 paddock, effectively putting him back on the radar for a future race seat. While a spot in the Red Bull camp is challenging, his prospects for finding a seat with other teams are now much better, according to his own statements.