Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda delivered a stunning performance in Saturday’s Australian Grand Prix qualifying, dialing in what he called a “magic lap” to secure a remarkable fifth place on the grid.
The Japanese charger clocked in 1m15.670s in the final moments of Q3 that outpaced Williams Alex Albon and, more impressively, both Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamiton.
Tsunoda’s heroics at Albert Park not only marked his best qualifying result since Brazil 2024 but also showcased the strides Racing Bulls has made, giving him a platform to shine on in a pivotal season for the 24-year-old.
A Lap That Came Out of Nowhere
Tsunoda’s journey to P5 was anything but straightforward, requiring a perfect blend of skill, strategy, and a little luck.
“I can say definitely it was a magic lap,” he told F1.com, beaming with pride after the session. “I think I was able to put it all together as well.”
The lap, which eclipsed his earlier efforts, stood out as a pinnacle of his weekend.
“The quality of lap was the best out of previous runs throughout the week so far,” he said, crediting a slipstream from McLaren’s Lando Norris for an extra boost. “But I also got a bit of help from Lando until Turn 9 with the tow.”
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The result, he admitted, was unexpected even to him.
“Combined with everything, that lap time came a bit out of nowhere,” Tsunoda remarked.
Yet, it wasn’t just a fluke—the Racing Bulls car had shown consistent pace all week, laying the groundwork for his late Q3 heroics.
“So very happy but also car pace so far throughout the week was consistently good so that gives me extra confidence into qualifying,” he added. “Huge credit to the team, they worked really hard over the off-season and I’m happy now.”
Outpacing the Odds
Tsunoda’s P5 was a statement in more ways than one. Lining up ahead of Albon and the Ferrari duo, he also put significant daylight between himself and Liam Lawson, the teammate who had edged him out for a coveted Red Bull seat.
Just 0.2 seconds off Verstappen’s pace in the Red Bull, Tsunoda proved he could mix it with the front-runners, a feat that underscored his team’s potential and his own determination.
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Racings Bulls’ productive session also included an exceptional performance from Tsunoda’s teammate, rookie Isack Hadjar, who concluded his maiden F1 qualifying just outside the top ten, in 11th place.
“I’m quite happy today, and coming to this weekend, I’d have signed for this result in my first qualifying in Formula 1,” commented Hadjar.
“Albert Park is a very particular circuit, but this performance from us as a team with also Yuki in P5 shows we worked hard after Bahrain Testing, making some steps forward and allowing us to have a better understanding of the car.
“Looking at tomorrow where rain is forecast, I’ve never driven in wet conditions with all the other cars around, only once alone in a TPC, so I can’t count on much experience, but instead it will be important to use the instinct and smartness,” concluded the young Frenchman.
Ready For a Melbourne Downpour
Interestingly, Tsunoda revealed that In fact, he revealed that Racing Bulls had already tailored his car’s setup to handle wet conditions, a strategic gamble that could pay dividends.
“Actually even in rain condition, we are kind of already prepared [for it],” he said. “We made a compromise with set-up as well.”
This foresight left him optimistic about his prospects, even as he acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“So even in rain condition I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m excited for tomorrow but at the same time it’s going to be tricky,” he noted.
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