Despite being overlooked for a promotion from the Racing Bulls team, Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda remains undeterred in his ambition to join the Red Bull outfit. His determination persists even as fellow driver Liam Lawson grapples with the challenges posed by the Milton Keynes-based F1 group.
Tsunoda, now in his fifth season with the Faenza-based sister team of Red Bull, Racing Bulls, has observed Lawson’s struggle to acclimate. The latter’s struggle is reminiscent of the difficulties experienced by Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly, all of whom have had their share of challenges at Red Bull. Lawson’s struggle is particularly stark as he has been consigned to the rear of the grid in the RB21 at Shanghai, a position that only Red Bull’s competitors would find pleasing.
Contrastingly, Racing Bulls have displayed strong performance on the Chinese circuit, with drivers Isack Hadjar and Tsunoda set to take the seventh and ninth spots on the grid for the upcoming Sunday race. Max Verstappen, upon seeing the team’s strong performance, acknowledged their progress, noting, “They’re doing very well, they’re very close to me. Maybe that also says something.”
Yet, despite Racing Bulls’ commendable performance, Tsunoda’s desire to join Red Bull remains. When asked if he was interested in driving the temperamental Red Bull car during his home race in Japan, he responded affirmatively, attributing his interest to the car’s superior speed.
Additionally, Tsunoda commended Racing Bulls’ growth since the last season, noting that the team had evolved into a potent midfield contender. Despite initial doubts during testing, Racing Bulls have proven their worth by consistently delivering top-10 results, including a double top-10 finish in the qualifying round at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Tsunoda observed, “Last year if I remember correctly, like this kind of long corners we tend to struggle, especially long run, but Sprint qualifying, race I feel pretty consistent, and the pace seems so far very strong like I had in Australia.” He added cautiously, “Obviously it’s too probably early to conclude it, I mean Suzuka is another different track, but so far seems like we have a positive path.”
In light of the Red Bull snub, Tsunoda’s determination and Racing Bulls’ impressive performance, it appears there’s much to anticipate in the upcoming races. Undeniably, the unfolding dynamics in the world of Formula 1 continue to captivate fans and competitors alike.