Yuki Tsunoda is on a challenging journey with Red Bull as he adapts to a more demanding racing environment.
- After a switch to Red Bull, Tsunoda finds pace doesn’t translate easily between teams, struggling against Max Verstappen’s performances.
- Red Bull arranged for additional practice at Silverstone, aiming to help Tsunoda acclimatize better to their cars.
- British weather threw a wrench into testing plans, limiting Yuki’s time on track.
- Despite these hurdles, Tsunoda remains optimistic, bringing positive energy and valuable feedback to the team.
Yuki Tsunoda’s transition from Racing Bulls to Red Bull is turning out to be tougher than anticipated. Despite the close connections between the teams, achieving the same speed has been elusive. Tsunoda, who has now participated in four races, has secured only six points, highlighting the difficulties in matching the pace set by Max Verstappen.
To tackle these challenges, Red Bull organized a TPC (Testing Program Cycle) at Silverstone, allowing Tsunoda to gain more familiarity with their engineering team and procedures. Unfortunately, the infamous British weather disrupted these plans as morning rains limited the valuable track time available to the driver. However, Tsunoda made the most of it, covering a few laps, which Christian Horner, the team principal and CEO, considered beneficial for the young driver.
Christian Horner, when comparing Tsunoda to Verstappen, refrained from pointing out specific shortcomings, instead indicating that there are minor improvements required across different sections of the track. He expressed trust in Tsunoda’s development, citing his substantial experience as an asset and praising the enthusiastic energy he contributes to the team.
Helmut Marko, associated with Red Bull’s driver development, mentioned that Tsunoda is one of the few teammates to truly experience racing at Verstappen’s level. Despite the current struggles, there’s a belief in Tsunoda’s potential to rise further in the rankings with growing confidence.
Yuki Tsunoda’s journey with Red Bull reflects both the challenges and potential for growth as he adapts to new racing conditions.
