Tsunoda Voted Driver of the Day in Debut

Yuki Tsunoda made his Red Bull Racing debut at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix following a surprise swap with Liam Lawson, who was demoted to Racing Bulls. Despite Tsunoda's promising performance in practice sessions, he qualified 15th and finished 12th in the race, falling short of scoring points. Red Bull's senior advisor Helmut Marko viewed Tsunoda's performance positively, acknowledging the challenges of overtaking at Suzuka and emphasizing the importance of qualifying. Tsunoda was voted 'Driver of the Day' by fans, although former Red Bull test driver Antonio Felix da Costa criticized this as a 'sympathy vote.' Tsunoda expressed mixed feelings about his debut, recognizing it as a learning experience and expressing optimism for future races. Despite the initial performance, Tsunoda's seat is secure for the season, giving him time to prove his capability alongside Max Verstappen.