FIA summon Tsunoda’s Red Bull in….read more
Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull car, the RB21, has been summoned by the FIA for a display procedure ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, marking an important milestone in his career. This will be Tsunoda’s debut with the Red Bull Racing team, following the demotion of Liam Lawson after just two race weekends. Tsunoda, a Japanese driver, will race with Red Bull at his home Grand Prix, the Suzuka International Circuit, sporting a special Red Bull livery featuring the Japanese flag. This marks a major moment in his career, as he previously spent four full seasons racing for Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri (formerly known as Toro Rosso), which is also part of the Red Bull family.
The display procedure, which Tsunoda’s car has been selected for, is a routine event organized by the FIA at every Grand Prix. The cars chosen for the procedure are exhibited outside the team garages, offering fans and media a closer look at the machinery. It allows the public to admire the vehicles up close before the official race weekend begins. The RB21, with its distinctive Japanese-themed design, will be part of the display along with Esteban Ocon’s Haas and Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber. This procedure is part of the lead-up to each race, and it’s common for different cars to be chosen for the display at every Grand Prix weekend.
Tsunoda’s promotion to the main Red Bull team comes after years of waiting and a series of changes in Red Bull’s driver lineup. Over the course of his career, Tsunoda has had a rotating cast of teammates, and Max Verstappen will now be his sixth teammate in just four years. His previous teammates include notable drivers like Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, and Nyck de Vries. Despite this, Tsunoda has consistently outperformed his teammates over the last two seasons.
Initially, Lawson was chosen to replace Sergio Perez for the 2024 season, but after just two race weekends, the partnership between Lawson and Red Bull came to a swift end. This led to Tsunoda being called up to race for the main Red Bull team, an opportunity he had been waiting for. His promotion is especially meaningful given that the Japanese Grand Prix is his home race, making this an emotional and significant debut.
Tsunoda’s journey to this point has been a mix of perseverance and adaptation. After spending several years in the Red Bull family, moving between AlphaTauri and now stepping up to the main Red Bull team, he has proven himself capable on multiple occasions. However, the changing nature of Red Bull’s driver lineups has meant that he has not always had a clear, uninterrupted path to a permanent position with the main team. His ability to overcome these challenges and be chosen for this promotion underscores his talent and potential.
As Tsunoda prepares to take on this new chapter of his Formula 1 career, the spotlight will be on him at Suzuka, where he will finally race alongside the elite drivers of Red Bull. It’s a chance for Tsunoda to show his capabilities at a new level, with Verstappen, the team’s established star, as his teammate. His RB21 car, now showcased at the display procedure, is a symbol of his journey within the Red Bull family and his readiness to take on this new challenge. The procedure will give fans and media a first look at the car he will drive in his debut race, adding to the excitement surrounding Tsunoda’s highly anticipated Grand Prix weekend.
