Yuki Tsunoda identifies the 2024 season as pivotal for his F1 career, setting a clear objective for the upcoming campaign.
Tsunoda was under the microscope when last year began, facing off against Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. After a dream weekend in Italy for Williams, the Dutchman was riding a wave of positivity heading into 2023.
Many expected him to outperform Tsunoda, including Red Bull’s Helmut Marko. However, the 23-year-old quickly ended this train of thought – comfortably outperforming his older teammate.
Although some might argue Red Bull’s decision to make a mid-season swap was harsh, Tsunoda deserves credit for holding his ground.
Comparing his performances to Ricciardo and Lawson is tricky, owing to relatively limited sample sizes. Still, it seems clear the AlphaTauri driver was the team’s reference throughout the year.
However, during Sergio Perez’s RB19 struggles, Tsunoda was rarely linked to a promotion to the main team.
On a consistent basis, Daniel Ricciardo was mentioned by Christian Horner as an option for Red Bull. Even during this winter, the Austrian team seems to be offering more praise to the eight-time race winner.
In any case, this will be a crucial season for Yuki Tsunoda.
Speaking with jp.motorsport.com, he left no doubt about this year’s significance:
“Last year, I was able to take a step forward in terms of discovering my value as a driver.
“Furthermore, I think the car will be better this year, and I think we will have more opportunities to compete in the top 10.
“I think this will be the year I prove that I have what it takes to be a top F1 driver.”
Tsunoda faces opportunities and risks
Perhaps the biggest threat to Red Bull’s F1 roster is Liam Lawson, who will start 2024 on the sidelines.
However, it seems only a matter of time until Lawson earns a full-time drive. Red Bull has recently alluded to this, putting extra pressure on Perez, Ricciardo, and Tsunoda to deliver results.
Regardless of whether the Kiwi driver is given an F1 contract, comfort is a luxury AlphaTauri drivers cannot afford.
For the sake of his prospects within and outside the Red Bull set-up, Yuki Tsunoda must hold his own against Daniel Ricciardo this season.
With most of the grid on expiring contracts, Tsunoda could find some openings. If he sustains his late-season form, the 23-year-old can be a valuable asset in the market.
AlphaTauri should be more competitive this year, giving the Japanese driver better tools to leave his mark.
