"I feel more confidence" - Yuki Tsunoda reacts to fifth in Qatar F1 sprint qualifying

"I feel more confidence" - Yuki Tsunoda reacts to fifth in Qatar F1 sprint qualifyingStory byMotorsport photoFilip CleerenFri, November 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM UTC·5 min read

Yuki Tsunoda says he can "feel more confidence" in his Red Bull Formula 1 car after beating team-mate Max Verstappen to fifth in Qatar Grand Prix sprint qualifying.

Tsunoda took his highest qualifying position for Red Bull in what looks set to be his penultimate race weekend with the squad, as he is poised to be replaced by Racing Bull's Isack Hadjar for 2026.

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But the Japanese driver isn't going down without a fight, and after showing improvements in Las Vegas, which were thwarted by a tyre pressure error from the team, Tsunoda confirmed his new-found confidence in the Red Bull RB21 with fifth in Losail's sprint qualifying session.

"So far, it's been a clean race weekend, pretty smooth, no issues in practice and qualifying so far," said Tsunoda, after qualifying ahead of team-mate Verstappen, who went for a different car set-up and was struggling with the handling of his car.

"I feel more confidence in qualifying. I just have to put it all together, there's three more sessions to go, but it's very important for the team. It's good that both sides of the garage are very focused and we try to give the maximum.

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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

"But for me as well, I'm happy with the car and with my confidence. Obviously, there are some bits to go for tomorrow to find the extra tenths, but I'm excited."

When asked by Motorsport.com about Tsunoda's performance, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said: "If you look back to Las Vegas Yuki was already very close to Max, but we [chose] the wrong tyre pressure that put him out in Q1 and that ruined his race weekend. But his speed was consistently improving.

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"Of course, he's improving his performance and he's more involved in the technical side."

Photos from Qatar GP - Sprint Qualifying

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Alexander Albon, Williams

Alexander Albon, Williams

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Rio Ferdinand arrives in the Paddock

Rio Ferdinand arrives in the Paddock

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Zak Brown, McLaren

Zak Brown, McLaren

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Guido De Bortoli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 walks in the Paddock

Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 walks in the Paddock

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Guido De Bortoli

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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Guido De Bortoli

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Guido De Bortoli

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Guido De Bortoli

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Guido De Bortoli

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

George Russell, Mercedes

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Guido De Bortoli

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

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F1 Qatar GP: Oscar Piastri takes sprint race pole from George Russell and Lando Norris

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