Yuki Tsunoda will finally race for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix, something he once feared might never happen. After four years with the junior team and a strong start to the 2025 season, Red Bull confirmed on Thursday he would be replacing Liam Lawson and joining Max Verstappen for the rest of the year.

The timing couldn’t be more special, as the race takes place in his home country at Suzuka, and it is also the final season of Red Bull’s partnership with Honda. Speaking at a Honda event in Tokyo, Tsunoda said the news still feels surreal. “To be honest, I never expected to be racing for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix,” he said.

“This is the final year of Red Bull and Honda’s partnership, so getting to race in Suzuka as a Red Bull Racing driver feels like fate.”

While Tsunoda is clearly proud and excited, he is also aiming high. “I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this Japanese Grand Prix, I want to finish on the podium,” he admitted.

At the same time, he knows the challenge won’t be easy. He hasn’t yet driven the Red Bull RB21, so his first goal is to get comfortable in the car. “If I can naturally enjoy driving it as I get familiar with it in FP1, then the results will follow.”

Instead of feeling nervous, Tsunoda says he’s embracing the moment. “More than anything, I’m excited about the challenge ahead,” he said. “There aren’t many moments in life where you face this kind of extreme pressure and an opportunity as big as this.”

Since the announcement, he’s been busy preparing through simulator sessions and car fittings but still took the time to thank his supporters.

“At first, I was too busy to even take the time to fully appreciate the excitement,” he said. “Of course, getting promoted to Red Bull is an amazing opportunity, but before anything else, I wanted to talk to the people who had supported me.”

After trying the car in the simulator, Tsunoda said it didn’t feel too difficult to drive and praised the responsive front end. He also joked about how different his car setup might be from Verstappen’s: “Of course, how I want to set up the car is probably different from Max. I want to develop my own car setup and gradually get up to speed from FP1.”

And when his mentor, former WTCC driver Ryo Michigami, said he didn't want to put too much pressure on him, Tsunoda’s answer was simple: “Yes, please pile on the expectations and pressure!”