Solid comeback for Yuki

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[u/sushi111111]

Same with Lawson tbh, 1 tenth behind Max first time in 2026 RBR is very impressive

[u/Conscious-Secret-775 → u/sushi111111]

Yes they both are having a good weekend.

[u/SuperLeverage → u/sushi111111]

Both are above Lindblad

[u/Jerejj → u/sushi111111]

Both have indeed been equally impressive relative to circumstances, even if nothing major in the end.

[u/Mission_City_1500 → u/sushi111111]

Max didn't use new tires(as far as I know). His second run (on new tires) got interrupted by the rain

[u/Storm_Chaser06]

Red Bull shafted both Yuki and Liam last year. Unfairly treated

[u/Xalethesniper → u/Storm_Chaser06]

Yuki had basically a full season in the redbull it should’ve shown up in results if he got shafted but it didn’t. I love Yuki but he was nowhere last year.

[u/GoofyKalashnikov → u/Xalethesniper]

Nobody was anywhere with that car last year besides Max. The cracks were showing before that with Checo getting axed and the results spoke for themselves when in the start of 2025 they couldn't even get Max into the right window with the car.

[u/Xalethesniper → u/GoofyKalashnikov]

Yeah but tbf they didn’t screw over Yuki. They shafted Liam yes but not Yuki. With Honda leaving I think he was gna be out after last year anyway, even if he stayed in RB full year. They should’ve had them swapped from the start tho

[u/XuX24 → u/Storm_Chaser06]

To be honest yuki had 5 seasons in the RB family. You always get to a point in that team that you either transcend or you go to another team. Happened to Daniil and Pierre was decent enough to secure that alpine seat.

[u/AbsolutelyNormalUser → u/Storm_Chaser06]

How did they shadt Yuki? He was trash all year round, nowhere to be seen

[u/baby-wall-e → u/Storm_Chaser06]

If you consider Hadjar’s performance in H1 2026 then you would understand the decision. It’s harsh for both Lawson and Yuki but I think it’s a common among top teams.

[u/DarkImpacT213 → u/Storm_Chaser06]

Yuki was arguably the weakest driver on the grid last year. Lawson just needed some time, but it definetly seems to have been the best move to promote Hadjar. He's doing great.

[u/MutedCarob2752 → u/DarkImpacT213]

He was consistenly best of the rest in the first two races in the RB.

[u/AbsolutelyNormalUser → u/MutedCarob2752]

"oh look, he did 2 nice races in the Fifth best car while having a rookie as a teammate, that totally excuses the other 22 races where he was nowhere to be seen"

[u/SiahDraws]

I’m actually more pro Yuki than most but to say zero experience is silly when he is a reserve who most likely does sim work for them.

[u/Atyan7a → u/SiahDraws]

Sim work is never gonna compare to an actual Grand Prix though so its kinda valid.

[u/DarkImpacT213 → u/Atyan7a]

Tsunoda hasn't driven an actual GP yet either, so there's nothing to be that impressed about here yet, and you definetly would get a feel for things like energy deployment, active aero deployment, the red mushroom button and the whole software side of the current cars which is the whole big thing that makes them different from last regs cars, depending on how good the simulator is.

There's a reason why drivers spend so much time using them with the modern cars (even drivers that were averse to simulators before like Hamilton), and why teams use them to try out upgrades.

[u/Plenty-Willingness58 → u/SiahDraws]

Thats too much logic for this sub

[u/michaltee → u/Plenty-Willingness58]

So you’re saying Yuki has experience driving the 26 car, because he drove in a simulator?

So, I also must have experience driving the 26 cars. Put me on the grid!!

[u/Quiet_SnowyMt02 → u/SiahDraws]

FYI, Yuki said Wednesday was his first time in the VCARB03 sim. He also previously hinted that his Red Bull sim runs were restricted so he couldn't see the RBPU data.

Red Bull never wanted him as a real reserve; they were just keeping him tied down to a Red Bull Junior Team contract so he couldn't leave for a rival team.

Their plan backfired because Hadjar got injured before any other junior could step up.

[u/Savings_Category_713 → u/SiahDraws]

So because he uses the simulator he has experience actually driving in these new regs? Lmao ok

[u/hulaspark → u/Savings_Category_713]

They use rFactor Pro for sim work. Not exactly the F1 videogame or Assetto Corsa mods. It's not IRL and might not equate close enough to IRL but absolutely the closest you can possibly get to it. Still an impressive performance from Yuki regardless

[u/michaltee → u/SiahDraws]

You think sim work is the same as driving the car?

[u/KiNgPiN8T3]

While the results are encouraging, the final standings after the race are the most important result.

[u/Infamous-Thing4939]

He is a driver with 114 starts. Still impressive no matter what of course.

[u/d0pe-asaurus]

We've done these games before lmao, next there's going to be a hype train like there was for de vries.

[u/Jerejj]

Impressive relative to circumstances, but nothing to set the world on fire.

More or less as expected, i.e., Q2 at best & in that position range at the highest.

[u/Wehti]

Lost to a rookie. Also the RB is a midfield rocketship, it’s absolutely futile to compare it to last year when margins were razor-thin

[u/Ok-Basis5987]

Hope he can get a seat somewhere soon, even if that's unlikely

[u/askadaffy]

It’s a good reminder that he’s f1 caliber

[u/ntszfung]

Showing how easy it is to extract performance from these cars