Tsunoda impressed Red Bull during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi

Decisive tests for Yuki Tsunoda?

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, post-season tests took place at the Yas Marina Circuit. While they may not be of utmost importance, they could still be significant for the Japanese driver. Although he seemed resigned to having to complete another season with Racing Bulls, the trend may have reversed last week. During the end-of-season tests, Red Bull decided to entrust one of its cars to Yuki Tsunoda, even though the Japanese driver is part of Racing Bulls. This decision aimed to test him in real conditions. A test that the former teammate of Pierre Gasly seems to have passed. According to recent reports, the Japanese driver received feedback suggesting that the Milton Keynes team was impressed by his input.

« I heard a lot of feedback about how impressed they were, especially by my technical comments. This came not only from the engineers on the track but also from those working remotely from the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes. They mentioned how much my feedback impressed them », he explained to Planet F1, an area in which he had been heavily criticized in the past. Red Bull thus seems to evaluate the Japanese driver not on his speed, which has been unquestionable for several months, but on his ability to understand the car and adapt it to his driving style.

« It was a key objective for me. I think Red Bull already knows that my speed is not an issue. What they’re more interested in are aspects like my feedback, my behavior within the team, and my conduct in the car. These are probably the points they considered the most unclear. » The Racing Bulls driver believes he achieved this goal during his test day. « Keeping that in mind, I continued to provide feedback as I always have, trying to communicate as detailed and comprehensively as possible. »

If these tests allowed him to try the RB20, he was also able to observe the functioning of the Austrian team. Although there are many similarities between the two teams, the technical analysis at Red Bull seems more thorough, according to the Japanese driver.

« Even though the two teams are quite different, there are similarities, notably a positive atmosphere. If I had to give an example regarding the engineering processes, Red Bull delves into every comment I make. They ignore nothing that I mention, asking very detailed follow-up questions to explore even more specifics. Even though their image is that of an energetic team, their approach is incredibly meticulous and detail-oriented. In a way, this precision aligns with the attention to detail often associated with the Japanese. »

Although he is not the favorite for the Red Bull seat, which seems to be going back to his teammate Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda hopes that these tests have helped convince Red Bull that he is ready to drive for a top team. « I think my chances are 50-50. Of course, I would be the happiest if I could drive for Red Bull, but I am incredibly grateful for all the support I receive in this situation. No matter which team I race for, my goal remains the same. »

If Red Bull is his dream destination, the Japanese driver seems to approach things pragmatically and is simply happy to be in Formula 1. « I don’t know what will happen, but I just want to perform well and score points. Getting on the podium at Suzuka would be the ultimate dream. But to achieve that, I want to help build a better car and a better team. Until then, I hope everyone can be patient. It could even be next year. I will do my best with everything I have. »

As the 2024 season has ended, the Austrian team still needs to reveal the identity of Max Verstappen’s future teammate. While New Zealander Liam Lawson is the frontrunner for the seat, other contenders, like Yuki Tsunoda, haven’t given up. A difficult choice lies ahead for Red Bull, and the Austrian team must quickly make a decision as the 2025 season is fast approaching.