The 2026 F1 season is reserving some positives for returning driver Yuki Tsunoda, who scored his first point since returning behind the wheel of a Racing Bulls car at the Italian GP. The Japanese, named Red Bull and Racing Bull’s Reserve driver following the end of last season, is currently serving as replacement for Isack Hadjar.
The Red Bull and French driver had suffered a wrist injury during the summer break, with Lawson replacing him at the factory team and Tsunoda rejoining Racing Bulls in Zandvoort. Monza was his second outing thus far, and the Italian GP saw him score his first points of the 2026 F1 season.
Loads of emotions for Tsunoda in F1 Italian GP
Yuki Tsunoda had a strong restart following Leclerc’s crash. After the red flag, the Japanese driver bolted up to P11, then overtaking Haas’s Bearman to join the top ten.
While he even managed to run in P9 for several laps, ultimately he was passed by Colapinto, having to be satisfied with the only point awarded for P10.
Overall, the former Red Bull F1 driver expressed his contents, as Tsunoda recounted the 2026 F1 Italian GP from his point of view. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of scoring points following a rather frustrating finish in Zandvoort as the best place Racing Bulls driver, but once again losing out a spot to an Alpine driver, in that case former teammate Pierre Gasly.
Regarding the issue at the end of the formation lap when he initially went on the wrong side of the grid, the former F2 race winner is hopeful Audi’s appeal will not be a success.
“Yeah, I mean, I hope everything is OK, let’s see how it goes with that. But yeah, I’m happy with it. I didn’t expect that mediums would behave better like that. But, thanks to the team to help me with management. Scoring points after that is a bit of a break after P11 in the Zandvoort race, I’ll take it.”
A potential situation to monitor
The 26-year-old admitted that he had had his doubts while approaching his starting spot, but confirmed that he had immediately taken all the needed precautions and cares to ensure that he wouldn’t gain advantage from the situation. He did eventually park in his grid spot but in a rather awkward way, hence the extra formation lap.
“I was a bit confused starting between 14th and 15th. In my view, I didn’t really gain the position before the red flag. I thought it was like 15th, but I was like, yeah.”
Asked whether he immediately reversed upon understanding his mistake ahead of the F1 Italian GP restart, Tsunoda denied.
“I didn’t. I wasn’t able to because it was too tight. But at least I parked behind the box pretty far. So I don’t think I gained any advantage for that.”
A very strong start in F1 Italian GP
On the other hand, the best moment of his Monza round definitely happened shortly after. Immediately at race resuming, Tsunoda bolted through three drivers to secure a positive provisional P11.
He explained that while he hadn’t felt confident enough to displace all his potential at the race start, he felt like he had gathered enough data to make a move the second time around.
”I was a bit conservative before the red flag. But, it really all depends on experience, how much this car behaves in the first lap with a very heavy condition, which I didn’t know yet much. So I had to take it easy. But I knew the reference for the red flag, so I was able to push it slightly more than before.”
The new technology has little secrets already for the Japanese
The Red Bull and Honda backed driver also opened up on his feeling with the new generation of cars as energy management is critical, with Monza the ultimate test. Having had only one practice session to settle in before Zandvoort’s Sprint Qualifying, getting back up to speed after several months of off time was not an easy accomplishment.
Nevertheless, Tsunoda is content with his understanding of the car, stressing the difference with the previous cars he has had the chance to driver throughout his five years on the Formula 1 grid.
“It was a new race, something like a new experience compared to what I had in my career in terms of racing. Yeah, it is like, something… I don’t know, mushroom mode or whatever, that gives a boost and have consequence. Yeah, to be honest, for me, I know in the data what to do. But obviously, it’s always relying on what happened in the lap and how to learn in the lap. So yeah, a little bit was not like this [in the past]. I was able to adapt pretty quickly with that. I guess I’m pretty happy with it.”
