Despite having only recently extended his contract with the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team (VCARB), Yuki Tsunoda believes that he is ready for a move to the front of the grid, after making significant progress towards improving his emotional control and in-race communications with his team.
The 24-year-old Japanese driver, who joined Red Bull Racing’s sister team, then known as AlphaTauri, in 2021, has since become infamous for his fiery temper and often-explicit outbursts over team radio. This behaviour had drawn much criticism, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo describing it as “a bit of immaturity” following their near-crash in Bahrain, and has, at times, detracted from Tsunoda’s otherwise strong on-track performances. Reportedly, these outbursts may have also affected Tsunoda’s chances for promotion to Red Bull Racing, despite him having outperformed Ricciardo in the first half of the 2024 season, earning 22 of VCARB’s 34 points, 10 more than Ricciardo’s 12 points.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Tsunoda acknowledged that his fiery temper, and the resulting poor communication over the team radio, had sometimes taken away from his overall performance, and stated that he felt that he had become “a more complete driver” after having worked to improve on these issues, as well as his overall consistency during races.
“I feel I’m a more complete driver,” Tsunoda said, before admitting that his outbursts had sometimes detracted from his overall performance, something which would not be seen as favourable by “top” teams on the grid, including Red Bull.
“When I look from an outside perspective, previously, even [though] my one lap or performance or my driving was okay, I think the radio communications, emotional control was lacking quite a lot – a big step when I compare to Daniel, for example.”
“If you want to go to a top team, those things will be very important because top teams are expecting a more complete driver.”
He stated that he had wanted to improve on those aspects of his performance to prevent further criticism, and claimed to have been successful, especially in the later races before the summer break. He added that he was proud of what he had been able to achieve and declared that he would focus on continuing to improve rather than on rumours.
“So I wanted to improve those things and to be a more complete driver so that no one can complain about the specific things and now I feel ready, the last couple of races I was able to achieve those things.”
“I believe in myself and I am finding more control, more consistency. I’m very happy that I am able to hit the target every time. This what I have to do, just focus on that rather than having to focus on rumours or whatever.”
Prior to extending his contract with VCARB, Tsunoda had been rumoured to be a contender for the second Red Bull seat, to race alongside Max Verstappen from the 2025 season onward. These rumours, however, were put to rest in June 2024 following announcements that Tsunoda had agreed to a one-year extension with VCARB, securing a seat with the team for the 2025 season, and that Sergio Pérez, who Tsunoda would have been replacing had he been promoted, would be continuing with Red Bull through the 2026 season. These rumours, however, have since been reignited as Pérez has recently come under heavy scrutiny following a spate of poor performances and claims that Red Bull may be considering demoting, or even firing him, if not in 2024, then for the 2025 season.
With the likes of Daniel Ricciardo seeking a return to Red Bull in the event that Pérez loses his seat, and Liam Lawson seeking a return to Formula One racing, Tsunoda, who enjoys strong support from Helmut Marko, current director of the Red Bull Formula One teams, and head of Red Bull’s driver development program, will be hoping for a strong, consistent second half of the season, to maintain favour within the Red Bull camp.
“They know my performance and they are happy with my performance,” Tsunoda insisted, “That’s what they extended my contract for next year, so it’s pretty clear.”
He did, however, acknowledge the need for continued, consistent, high-quality performances, but stated he felt ready to “fight against higher positions and teams” including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen,
“I just need to keep performing, keep making them happy consistently, and hopefully, things will come naturally.”
“I just keep focused on what I can do but obviously, I’m feeling ready to fight against higher positions and teams, and also fight against Max.”
“But they have to decide,” added the Japanese driver, acknowledging that ultimately, the higher-ups within the team would have to decide any future at Red Bull.
