Tsunoda to accelerate Red Bull learning with private Silverstone F1 test
The Japanese driver will accrue mileage in Red Bull's machinery away from the bustle of a Formula 1 grand prix weekend
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda is set for a private test at Silverstone next week with the hopes of speeding up his integration into the Formula 1 squad.
Off the back of an action-packed triple-header, the 24-year-old will drive Red Bull's 2023 RB19 at the British Grand Prix venue.
Tsunoda made his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month, replacing his former Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson.
Back-to-back weekends in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia followed, leaving the Japanese driver with little time to digest the more difficult RB21, which is suffering from severe balance issues.
Autosport understands Tsunoda's testing of a previous car session (TPC), which is preceded by a simulator day, was pre-arranged when he signed for the squad.
As per the regulations, this type of test must be conducted with machinery that is at least two seasons old.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
This could be beneficial for Tsunoda as he gets to test the car that Red Bull won a record 21 out of 22 grands prix with across 2023, in the hands of world champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
As Tsunoda continues to get to grips with the Red Bull's driving style and the team’s set-up methods, he now gets to sample what a much better car feels like.
The TPC test is nothing out of the ordinary, however, as Lawson also received a day in the same car at the Spanish circuit of Jerez in February to prepare for his 2025 campaign.
Tsunoda scored his first points for Red Bull with ninth at last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, but admitted he still had to get used to how the RB21 likes to be driven.
“It comes down to the experience really, this car behaves quite differently at each track so it’s hard to predict," Tsunoda said ahead of this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“I’m not fully relaxing driving this car - I’m still rushing and not fully in control yet."
Tsunoda crashed in FP2 after clipping the inside wall of Jeddah's final corner, but made it back out in final practice after the necessary repairs.
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