Tsunoda may leave Japanese Grand Prix pointless, but gains this prize in Red Bull debut
Yuki Tsunoda in Japan
14:30, 06 Apr 2025
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I am a passionate and knowledgeable Formula 1 fan who has watched the sport since age five, watching every single race. Having karted competitively throughout my teens, I understand what it takes to be a racing driver, and every aspect of motorsports fascinates me. I am now studying sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire with the hopes of one day landing a dream role in motorsport. As well as English, I speak Spanish fluently after living there for some time when I was younger.
Yuki Tsunoda may not have had a standout performance in terms of race results during his debut for Red Bull Racing at Suzuka, but he still managed to win over the fans. Despite finishing outside the points and gaining just two positions, the Japanese driver was named Driver of the Day — a title voted on by fans worldwide.
With 23% of the votes, Yuki Tsunoda was officially named Driver of the Day at the Japanese Grand Prix. The fan-voted honour came during his first race for Red Bull Racing, following a driver swap with Liam Lawson.
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Tsunoda's teammate, Max Verstappen, delivered a masterclass at Suzuka by leading the Japanese Grand Prix from start to finish, holding off relentless pressure from the McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri. Despite his dominant performance and securing his first win of the season, it wasn’t enough to sway the fan vote. Verstappen received only 19.7% of the Driver of the Day votes, falling short of Tsunoda’s 23%.
Oliver Bearman shines in battle for points
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Further down the field, Haas driver Oliver Bearman stood out. Despite fierce competition from experienced names like Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, and Carlos Sainz, he managed to finish a great tenth.
During the race, Bearman temporarily lost ground due to pit stops, but he fought his way back into the points with clever overtaking moves and resilient defence. In contrast, teammate Esteban Ocon had a challenging afternoon and remained stuck in a disappointing eighteenth place.
Young Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar also drove valiantly. The Frenchman finished in eighth place, managing to secure his first points in Formula 1.
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This article was written in collaboration with Mitchel van der Hoef
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