# Yuki Tsunoda at the United States Grand Prix

Source: https://www.thef1formula.com/matchups/yuki-tsunoda-at-cota
Last updated: 2026-06-02

> Yuki Tsunoda has consistently scored points at the United States Grand Prix, showcasing a knack for navigating COTA's challenging layout and achieving a best finish of 7th.

Yuki Tsunoda's record at the Circuit of the Americas reveals a driver who consistently finds a way into the points, often demonstrating a capacity to extract performance from his machinery on this demanding permanent circuit. Across his five starts at the United States Grand Prix, Tsunoda has secured points in four of those appearances, a testament to his adaptability and race craft on a track known for its diverse challenges. His best finish of 7th, achieved in 2025 with Red Bull Racing, highlights a trajectory of improvement and effective race execution at Austin.

From his debut at COTA in 2021 with Scuderia AlphaTauri, where he started 10th and finished 9th, Tsunoda has shown a fundamental understanding of the circuit's demands. The Circuit of the Americas, with its dramatic uphill Turn 1, high-speed Esses, and complex final sector, requires a balanced car setup and a driver capable of precise inputs across varying corner types. Tsunoda's aggressive yet controlled style often allows him to thrive in these conditions, particularly in sectors that reward quick changes of direction and robust braking. This is a characteristic that can also be observed in how other drivers approach COTA, such as [Oscar Piastri at the United States Grand Prix](/matchups/oscar-piastri-at-cota), who also needs to master these varied elements.

His subsequent appearances further cemented this pattern. In 2022, starting 19th, he climbed to 10th to score a solitary point, a clear demonstration of his ability to recover positions and manage a race effectively. The 2023 season saw him start 11th and finish 8th, securing five valuable points for AlphaTauri. While the 2024 race saw him finish 14th from a 10th-place start, it was an outlier in an otherwise strong record at Austin. This consistent points-scoring capability, often from mid-grid positions, underscores a resilience that is crucial for success in the [Formula 1 — official site](https://www.formula1.com/en) championship.

The 2025 United States Grand Prix marked a significant moment, with Tsunoda achieving his best finish of 7th, securing six points for Red Bull Racing. This performance, from a 13th-place grid start, illustrates his continued development and the potential he can unlock with top-tier machinery. COTA often presents opportunities for strategic variance and overtaking, and Tsunoda has consistently capitalized on these. His approach to races at circuits like COTA, which demand both raw pace and strategic thinking, can be compared to the challenges faced at other North American venues, such as [Oscar Piastri at the Mexico City Grand Prix](/matchups/oscar-piastri-at-mexico-city), where altitude and unique track characteristics add further layers of complexity. The detailed race results and standings for these seasons can be further explored through [Jolpica/Ergast — 2026 season data](https://api.jolpi.ca/ergast/f1/2026.json).

Tsunoda's knack for COTA seems to stem from a combination of his aggressive driving style, which suits the circuit's high-speed sections and heavy braking zones, and his improving race management. While his raw pace in qualifying has been strong, his ability to convert those into race-day points, even when starting further back, is a hallmark of his COTA record. The permanent nature of the Circuit of the Americas allows for consistent data collection and setup refinement, which appears to benefit drivers who meticulously prepare, a key aspect of modern [Wikipedia: Formula One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One) racing. This consistent performance at a complex track like COTA suggests that as his career progresses, particularly with a top team, his potential for even stronger results at such venues will only grow, much like we've seen with drivers adapting to demanding circuits such as [Oscar Piastri at the São Paulo Grand Prix](/matchups/oscar-piastri-at-interlagos).