Yuki Tsunoda's prospects within Formula 1 are quickly brightening, as Red Bull deliberates on future driver shifts. This year pits him against the once-favored Daniel Ricciardo for Sergio Perez's current seat at Red Bull next season, within their junior F1 team.
While Ricciardo is struggling, Tsunoda is suddenly emerging as the formidable force within the RB team, surprising many with his points finish in Melbourne.
Red Bull's principal F1 advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, expressed his growing admiration for Tsunoda's abilities and unique personality on Servus TV. "He has the right speed and a very special character," Marko acknowledged. He further appreciated Tsunoda's distinctive appeal, noting, "He doesn't allow himself to be pigeonholed, and some people don't like that very much. But what is decisive is the speed." He also highlighted: "And I have also read that he is the big favourite among the young fans."
Marko had previously critiqued Tsunoda for lacking the consistency and maturity needed for a premier seat with Red Bull Racing, despite acknowledging his flashes of raw speed. Yet, in Melbourne, Marko observed a significant improvement: "Tsunoda drives consistently good laptimes. When (Nico) Hulkenberg attacked him, he reacted immediately and pulled away by three seconds. The Haas is a fast car but Yuki was flawless all weekend. It is confirmation that he is absolutely a mature Formula 1 driver. That gives us confidence for the future," he remarked.
Regarding Ricciardo, Marko conceded that the Australian has struggled to match Tsunoda's pace this year. "Things haven't gone so well for him (Ricciardo) in the last three races," Marko noted, emphasizing Ricciardo's need for a car that boosts his confidence. "I hope the team can give him that so he can at least be on a level playing field with Yuki."
Marko also expressed relief that the tumult surrounding Christian Horner and internal rumors of a power struggle subsided during the Melbourne event. "Calm has returned, but not for us in the race," he mentioned with a smile, hopeful for a quieter season ahead. Marko underscored the team's focus: "As long as we put together a car capable of winning, there is no reason for Max (Verstappen) to leave us. He wants to win a few more world championships."
