Pierre Gasly opens up about Yuki Tsunoda’s frustrations with Red Bull, shedding light on why the Japanese driver feels overlooked.
- Despite impressive performances, Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t been considered for a Red Bull promotion, with Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson as preferred alternatives.
- Tsunoda has voiced his readiness to take up the challenge alongside Max Verstappen, but Red Bull’s decision-makers seem to think otherwise.
- Gasly, having experienced similar setbacks, shares his advice and support for Tsunoda, believing in his potential and speed.
- Tsunoda has worked on calming his emotions, taking cues from Daniel Ricciardo’s communication style, but remains in a waiting game for a top seat.
Pierre Gasly wants to see former teammate Yuki Tsunoda get his chance at Red Bull, revealing that Tsunoda has opened up to him about his frustrations. Tsunoda is now in his fourth season with the Red Bull junior F1 team and is delivering his most impressive and consistent form yet, having collected 22 points so far in F1 2024 compared to 12 for his experienced teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
However, despite a potential opening emerging ahead of the summer break with Sergio Perez struggling at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, Tsunoda was never seriously considered for a promotion. Instead, Ricciardo and Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson were seen as the main contenders. The team ultimately decided to keep Perez in his seat for now. Tsunoda feels ready to make the step up and take on the Verstappen challenge, but Red Bull doesn’t seem to agree. Gasly, who teamed with Tsunoda in the Red Bull second team from 2021-22, mentioned that Tsunoda has discussed the situation with him, expressing that he “deserves more.” Gasly would like to see Tsunoda get his chance, but he knows the decision is up to Helmut Marko, head of the Red Bull driver program.
Gasly noted, “I always said Yuki is very fast. I have seen it. He has proved it over the past few seasons and he will continue to prove it. I have talked to him about it, we have had conversations and I know he wants more and feels he deserves more. It’s not an easy position. Personally, I would have liked him to get a chance at Red Bull, but I am not Helmut Marko.” In Gasly, Tsunoda is speaking to someone who understands the ups and downs of being a Red Bull driver. Gasly had a similar experience when he was promoted to the main team in 2019 but was demoted back to the junior team after struggling against Verstappen. Gasly never returned to Red Bull and chose to join Alpine from 2023.
Gasly has encouraged Tsunoda to stay on his current path, believing that consistent performance will eventually lead to the right opportunity. “I have been in a similar position to him,” said Gasly. “What I say to him is: ‘Just keep doing what you are doing. As long as you are competitive, at some point you will get the right place.’” Tsunoda recently disclosed that both Marko and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner advised him to “calm down,” given his reputation for team radio outbursts. Tsunoda acknowledged his progress in managing his emotions, noting that observing Ricciardo’s communication style has helped him improve.
Tsunoda stated, “Last year, in the second half of the season, I was told by Helmut Marko and Christian Horner that I needed to calm down and focus more on the feedback to become a more complete driver. Daniel is very, very good at that kind of thing, especially in terms of feedback and overall communication. After I got an insight into his communication style over the on-board radio, keeping in mind the goals set by Marko and Horner, things came together. Of course, things happened in Bahrain [the cooldown lap divebomb on Ricciardo], but afterwards, I changed to become a better driver, something I have been able to do ever since. I am therefore very satisfied with how I am doing in that area at the moment.” Tsunoda remains with the Red Bull junior team for F1 2025, waiting to see who will join him as the second-seat driver.
Tsunoda’s journey highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainties faced by talented drivers in the competitive world of F1.
