RB’s Yuki Tsunoda is coming off fresh from last week’s Hungarian Grand Prix that saw the Japanese driver finishing tenth. The 24-year-old has been making a good case for himself so far as to why Red Bull should consider him for the second Red Bull seat, if the Milton Keynes-based team decides to show Sergio Pérez the door.
The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix could be a critical race that may decide Tsunoda’s chances of getting a promotion, even if it seems Red Bull is leaning towards Daniel Ricciardo.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Tsunoda stated that he will not view the Belgian GP as a massive one as “all races are critical for Red Bull drivers except Max”. He believes that his results this season should suffice to show his progression as the season went on.
“Well, I guess for Red Bull drivers except for Max [Verstappen], all races are critical.
“I mean, just last chance, whatever, like those things, I just get used to it and just do my normal race.
“I think, if you see last previous races, since race one, it’s quite clear how much I improve in the [various] tracks, the amount of Q3 appearances, amount of points taken in each track, I think I’ve proved enough.
“Obviously, this race will be important as well. But yeah, see how it goes.”
The rumour mill is alive over which driver will fill the second Red Bull seat should it become available. Naturally, Red Bull will look in their own ranks.
When asked whether he spoke to team Christian Horner Helmut Marko about why he might not get promoted going by rumours, Tsunoda gave a blunt answer that he does not know.
In 2024, he has double the points of Daniel Ricciardo and leads the qualifying head-to-head 9-4.
“Well, I don’t know. At this point, I don’t know [if] they’re considering me or maybe they’re considering me or I don’t know.
“I guess, it’s the same for everyone. I don’t think other drivers, except Max, get any information about that. So they’re probably having conversations in the background.
“Hopefully I’m in the conversation. And I think I’ve done what I should have done, and I’m happy with what I’ve done until today.”
Tsunoda stated that he would have liked to know the criteria for the second Red Bull seat, but remained content with what he has achieved so far compared to other drivers.
Speaking of the rumours that have been swirling for quite a while, the RB driver said he cannot do anything about that, focusing on what he can manage.
“Even after you guys started talking about the rumours and Red Bull seats, whatever, it’s quite clear how much points I get compared to other drivers.
“Yeah, I’m happy with what I’ve done and it’s the things I can control. Those things, I can’t control those things. I just focus now on the things I can control, which is performance and see how it goes this race.”
Tsunoda reiterated his previous statement that he have yet to have any conversation with Horner or Marko but insisted that he is not overly disappointed.
While he would love to have that second Red Bull seat, Tsunoda said that he would be professional with the rumours flying and the pressure mounting.
“I don’t know about other drivers. It seems like also, I mean, other drivers seems they reacted like also they don’t have that kind of conversation as well. I don’t know about the driver currently, he’s not racing now. It’s the things that they decide as soon as possible.
“Obviously, I would like to be in that seat 100%, but also it’s not like I have a good feeling, like rumors flying around and oh you need to have a good race, whatever, extra pressure from the things. I never even get any conversation or have any idea about that. Obviously, I’m just hoping, those things. We’ll see how it goes.”
Tsunoda recounted having a conversation with Marko that took place in Austria, but he believed at the time that the conversation was about his future in Formula 1 rather than the second Red Bull seat.
“He told me in Austria, like [the] next three races will be important for your future. But I guess at that point, I don’t know, Austria wasn’t good, so I was thinking, ‘okay, maybe he’s talking about my future’, future about my Formula 1 seat rather than Red Bull seat, so I was not really asking deeply about that.“
“And it’s kind of typical Helmut that if I didn’t perform well for one or two races, immediately he comes to you and puts pressure, so it’s like kind of usual day for me. But yeah, I kind of handle hose things.
“But yeah, and after that, you know, Silverstone and Hungary, it was quite clear what I’ve done, and other than that, I don’t have any conversation.“
There are some races where Tsunoda could have done a bit better. For instance, in the Canadian Grand Prix where he spun and dropped himself out of the points-scoring position in the closing stages.
Other than few hiccups, the Sagamihara-born driver wished that Red Bull would focus more on his Q3 appearances and the fact he has consistently brought points home for RB.
“There are a couple of races I could have done better, for example, Montreal, I was in points and I lost points with my hands.
“But other than that, I mean, just please compare the Q3 appearance, qualifying results and the race results. It will be clear.
“In my opinion, yes, it’s quite clear, but other than that, I don’t know.”
Red Bull may have other factors to weigh in when it comes to driver’s selection, hence why Ricciardo or Lawson could get the nod of Pérez is fired.
Tsunoda claimed that he’s “the one performing well” at the top of the midfield fight. Only Nico Hülkenberg has scored more points than him in the battle behind the top 4 teams and a rather lonely Aston Martin.
“I guess it seems like there are also other factors [to consider], obviously, because they consider other drivers as well, based on rumors.
“But if you just, if they only see the performance, it’s quite clear, like I said, it’s really clear that I’m the one performing well, even in the top of the midfield, if you compare to all the drivers.”
Tsunoda may have earned himself a contract with RB next season but that contract can be as good as empty as Marko “can play around anything he wants”, and things such as clauses.
Nonetheless, he is safe for the rest of 2024 barring a shock.
The Japanese driver did admit he had not read the contract in full.
“Apparently, even like what Helmut said, they can play around anything he wants. So, even the contract is almost nothing.
“I mean, to be honest, I didn’t read it properly. I guess it’s more like, for now, I guess this team, yeah.”
