Yuki Tsunoda’s performance in the current Formula 1 season is proving that the championship order does not tell the whole story.
Despite being hindered by one of the poorest-performing cars on the grid, the Japanese driver is quietly having his most impressive season to date.
Tsunoda had a slow start to his career, openly admitting that he initially struggled with the physical demands of the sport.
However, he has since matured and emerged as a leader within the AlphaTauri team.
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Heading into the season, Tsunoda faced pressure alongside rookie teammate Nyck De Vries, with both drivers vying for a seat in 2024.
Tsunoda has effectively silenced his critics and consistently demonstrated his value during a challenging period for the Italian team.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, he discussed his aspirations for a potential Red Bull drive and his plans for the future as an F1 driver.
“I think Checo has a contract [until the end of] next year, and I guess Red Bull is happy with him. So, for now, I just have to focus on myself and show my value,” Tsunoda said.
“I think time will tell anyway. It’s good to stay at AlphaTauri and showcase my performance to all the teams.”
Recognising that his options may extend beyond the Red Bull academy, Tsunoda aims to accelerate his career and gain the freedom to choose his next team.
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“I don’t get to choose what team I want to go to or what things I want to do in Formula One yet. I think Red Bull will still have the final say, so I want to reach a point as a driver where I have that choice,” he explained.
“Obviously, I want to join a consistently high-performing team based on their track record in recent years.”
With Formula One returning to Europe, AlphaTauri is hoping to extract more performance from their package, providing Tsunoda with the opportunity to score more points and lift the team from the bottom of the constructors’ standings.