Yuki Tsunoda: F1 career, stats & what to know
At a glance
Yuki Tsunoda represents Japanese motorsport in Formula 1, competing in an era where opportunities for drivers from Japan remain selective. The 26-year-old drives for RB F1 Team and has built his career through consistent presence in the grid rather than breakthrough moments. His progression through the junior categories to Formula 1 reflects the established path for talent development, though his time in the championship has been characterized by steady accumulation of race craft and experience rather than rapid ascension to the sport's upper tiers.
Career numbers
Tsunoda's Formula 1 record spans 110 race starts, a figure that situates him among the more experienced drivers on the current grid in terms of race count. Across these races, he has recorded zero wins and zero podium finishes, placing him in a category of drivers whose contributions come through point finishes and constructors' championship support rather than individual victories. His single pole position, achieved in qualifying, remains his headline achievement—a demonstration that he possesses the raw pace to challenge competitors in single-lap performance. This gap between qualifying performance and race outcomes reflects a common pattern among midfield competitors: the ability to produce one-lap excellence does not automatically translate to maintaining position or improving it across a full race distance.
Recent seasons
The 2024 championship saw Tsunoda finish 12th overall with 30 points accumulated for RB F1 Team. In 2025, his championship position shifted to 17th, with 33 points scored. The marginal increase in points despite the lower final position underscores the competitiveness of the midfield, where small changes in points can produce significant shifts in final standing. Both seasons were contested driving for the same team, indicating continuity in his team partnership and stability of his position within the driver roster.
Current team
Tsunoda's platform is RB F1 Team, a midfield operation with a specific identity and development pathway. The team has retained him across consecutive seasons, suggesting confidence in his capabilities and continuity in planning. His results reflect not only his individual performance but the team's overall competitiveness and technical resources.
Why follow Tsunoda
Tsunoda's career carries significance beyond his individual championship results. As a Japanese driver in Formula 1, his presence on the grid holds cultural importance for motorsport in Japan. At 26, he is in the prime years of his racing career, a period where breakthrough performances often emerge for drivers who have accumulated sufficient experience. His pole position demonstrates that pace exists; the absence of podium finishes remains the goal that continues to elude him. For fans following midfield competition, Tsunoda represents a driver in position to change his record, should qualifying pace translate into race result.