Daniel Ricciardo candidly shared his thoughts on Yuki Tsunoda’s potential after the Japanese driver was once more overlooked for a Red Bull promotion. Tsunoda, now entering his fifth season with Red Bull’s junior team, remains a polarizing figure within the racing community.
Since joining Red Bull’s junior team, Tsunoda has grown to be its longest-serving driver. Nevertheless, despite his tenure, team bosses have never publicly considered him for the coveted Red Bull race seat. Even during discussions about possibly replacing Sergio Perez after the summer break, it was Ricciardo and reserve driver Liam Lawson who were mentioned, not Tsunoda.
Tsunoda expressed his readiness to step up to the challenge, confidently stating that he could compete with Verstappen. However, Red Bull chose to stick with Perez, raising eyebrows among pundits who suggested Tsunoda’s past ‘childish’ antics might have deterred the promotion.
Ricciardo, however, sees a changed Tsunoda, noting, ‘I think now he’s definitely getting probably the credit that he deserves. Probably a lot of people still think about his first year where he made a lot of mistakes. It just felt like maybe he couldn’t really adjust and it was all a bit too much.’ Ricciardo further highlighted Tsunoda’s progress, particularly in the latter half of his earlier seasons, where he started to outperform his then teammate Pierre Gasly.
Despite his growth, Ricciardo is cautious about predicting Tsunoda’s future success. ‘I think [Tsunoda has] grown a lot in the last few years, and I think is showing some really good pace and skill. I think he’s showing more consistency now,’ he commented. However, Ricciardo pointed out the uncertainty that comes with high-pressure situations, saying, ‘You just don’t know what happens when it’s the next level… We’ve all got the speed, but it’s like when the lights are fully turned up, who can still make those decisions and stay most composed.’
Red Bull has confirmed Tsunoda’s continuation with the junior team for the next season, though the identity of his teammate remains uncertain. Ricciardo, Lawson, and Isack Hadjar are all potential candidates. Ricciardo concluded, ‘Yuki has to answer that in due time, but my answer is definitely not no. I do think he’s got the ability, but that part is up to him.’
Whether Tsunoda will ever ascend to the Red Bull main team remains in question. Ricciardo’s insights paint a picture of a driver who has matured significantly but still faces the ultimate test of composure and performance under pressure. The upcoming season will be another chapter in Tsunoda’s evolving career.
