Yuki Tsunoda has revealed a major difference between the machinery he is now driving at Red Bull compared to what he previously enjoyed with Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda has now had equal race time in both cars, competing with Racing Bulls for the first two grands prix in Australia and China before a shock switch to Red Bull after the team opted to demote Liam Lawson.
The Japanese driver struggled initially in the Japanese Grand Prix as Max Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate before scoring the team's first points from its second driver this season with a ninth-place finish in Bahrain on Sunday.
The RB21 has proven to be a handful of a car this year, even for Verstappen, who heavily bemoaned brake and balance issues over the weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit en route to finishing sixth.
Explaining the differences he has encountered so far between the two cars he has driven this year, speaking to media, including RacingNews365, Tsunoda said: "It's not the same.
"To be in the window in which the car needs to perform, the VCARB has a much wider range. So whatever you do - almost - that car can operate quite well with any kind of balance.
"My Red Bull has a specific kind of setup, the window, the tyres, and it is really hard to find that narrow window.
"That kind of difference, for me, is quite big because I've never thought about warm-up, how to warm up, and set up, so that's the most difficult part to learn for myself."
Tsunoda going through 'up-and-down phase'
Tsunoda is at least happy with the progress he has made with the car in a short period despite its issues.
The 24-year-old feels he can continue with his experimentation with the car at this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
"The confidence in the car is quite good," added Tsunoda. "I just have to understand a lot more about this car to operate in the window this car wants. That's the most difficult part.
"Those things will come with experience. I have to go step by step. Every weekend I'm trying different stuff. Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it goes bad
"But I think that kind of up-and-down phase is quite normal for me, so I will just take my time, and progress with this rhythm.
"Maybe in Saudi Arabia, the same thing will happen. Maybe in free practice, I'm not in good shape, but I'm happy that I'll be able to be aggressive in trying something and progress forward. I won't rush it.
"But so far, I'm happy at how fast I've been able to progress."
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