Tsunoda at Red Bull, Barnard impressing, Márquez domination: Max’s ‘Who To Watch’ for April 2025
- Max Smolarski
- Apr 5
- 4 min read
Written by Max Smolarski, Edited by Marit Everett
Motorsport really kicks off in April, as every weekend is filled with NASCAR racing, Formula 1 and its support series to bring even more action. Formula E is also back after nearly two long months. There are also some captivating storylines from other series such as MotoGP and the World Endurance Championship.
Formula 1: Tsunoda’s promotion looks positive
After only two races in the 2025 Formula One season, Yuki Tsunoda has finally been promoted to the senior Red Bull Racing seat. Whilst driver development advisor Helmut Marko has said that Tsunoda will stay for the rest of the season, it does come after a little over four frustrating seasons at Red Bull’s sister team(Racing Bulls).
Marko has stated that Honda wanting the promotion at the Japanese Grand Prix was not a consideration. However, Honda could have had something to say about making the move this early, especially with last year’s rumours that they want to bring Tsunoda over to Aston Martin in 2026 when they will be providing engines for the team.
It would have been wise to keep Liam Lawson, who will go back to the Racing Bulls for the remainder of the year, for the Japanese GP. The kiwi driver has previously performed well at Suzuka, in both F1 during his 5-race stint in 2023, as well as the three races there in Super Formula in the same year.
Tsunoda, however, is content with his position at the moment, and believes there shouldn’t be any major issues after doing some simulator work at Milton Keynes last week. Talking during the driver’s press conference, the Japanese driver mentioned feeling confident in the car, adding, “I have a bit of an idea from the simulator, but it’s always a bit different from simulator to [the] real car. I don’t think I have to change my driving style.
“I just do whatever I was doing previously, and I go step by step to build the pace. But, let’s see; maybe, I don’t have to do that, maybe the car is straight away good.” Tsunoda does not need to worry, as Helmut Marko told the media that he will stay at Red Bull for the remainder of the year.
The next Formula One races in April are in a triple-header; Japan from the 4th to 6th April, Bahrain from the 11th to 13th, and Jeddah from the 18th to 20th.
Formula E: Can Barnard rise to the top at Homestead-Miami?
As a rookie, the young Taylor Barnard has been incredibly impressive in his first full season. The Brit has already broken the record for both youngest podium-sitter and youngest pole-sitter (both previously held by Daniel Abt).
As he told Divebomb in an interview at the end of February, his next goal is obviously to become the youngest race winner. “I definitely want to get that out of the way soon. [...] For sure, they mean a lot, but it’s not what I’m really focused on; the main priority is to try and score points for the team and for myself.”
He also described the car and the Nissan powertrain as working well for him, even when the tracks aren’t very familiar to him. There aren’t any large bumps at the next race at the Homestead-Miami road course, unlike in Sao Paulo, which could catch the team out in terms of overpower, even though Nissan have assured that the problems with overpower during starts will not happen again.
Taylor Barnard will be with NEOM McLaren on a slightly modified version of the Homestead-Miami Speedway’s road course layout on the 11th and 12th of April.
MotoGP: Can Márquez bounce back from COTA slip-up?
After two weekends where the 8-time world champion took home all the flowers of pole, sprint win and Grand Prix win, Marc Márquez looked to almost do the same after taking pole and the sprint win at the third round of 2025 at COTA.
After leading at near-half distance on lap 9, Márquez took the kerbs of Turn 4 too much, with the kerbs still being a bit damp from the quick showers that occurred half an hour before the race’s scheduled start time, ultimately resulting in retirement.
Márquez later admitted to his mistake, after having to retire on lap 13 or 19. "The kerb I already cut some laps before. So, I just cut it too much - I was too optimistic”. The races scheduled for MotoGP in April are in Qatar between the 11th and 13th April and at Jerez between the 25th and 27th April.
Other championships scheduled for April
F2 and F3 join Formula 1 in Bahrain, with F2 and F1 Academy as support series at Jeddah.
European Le Mans begins at Barcelona, with the race scheduled for the 6th of April.
Indycar and IMSA visit Long Beach on the same weekend from the 11th to 13th of April.
NASCAR’s championships visit Bristol (Truck, XFINITY, Cup) from 11th to 13th, Rockingham (Truck, XFINITY) from 18th to 19th, and Talladega (XFINITY, Cup) from 25th to 27th.
The World Endurance Championship is hosted at Imola from the 18th to 20th of April.
The DTM season begins in Oschersleben on April 27th.
The World Rally Championship continues in Gran Canaria with the Rally Islas Canarias from the 24th to 27th April.
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