Yuki Tsunoda, the talented Japanese driver currently racing for AlphaTauri, has revealed that he would be open to leaving the Red Bull family if it meant joining a consistently high-performing Formula 1 team. Despite doubts about his long-term future in the sport, Tsunoda has showcased his skills this season, consistently pushing an underperforming AT04 car to compete for points.
While Tsunoda currently sits in 17th place in the championship standings, just two points ahead of his teammate Nyck de Vries, his performances have been noteworthy. He has secured 11th place finishes on three occasions this season, demonstrating his ability to fight for valuable points.
Tsunoda’s progress has not gone unnoticed, and he has gone from being in the shadow of Pierre Gasly to being considered as a potential candidate to partner with Max Verstappen at Red Bull. However, Tsunoda is willing to explore other options outside the Red Bull program if it means having an opportunity with a top-tier team.
Speaking about his future prospects, Tsunoda stated, “I think Checo [Sergio Perez] 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. I think time will tell anyway. It’s good to actually stay for now at AlphaTauri and show my performance to all the teams.”
He added, “It’s good to have more attention not just from Red Bull. 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 get to choose, so I want to get to a point as a driver where I get to choose.”
Tsunoda expressed his desire to join a team that has consistently performed at a high level in recent years, emphasizing the importance of showcasing his skills to attract attention from various teams. While AlphaTauri is currently not meeting expectations, Tsunoda believes that if the team can reach the top tier in the future, there would be no reason to consider other options.
The Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, acknowledged that AlphaTauri’s performance has been below expectations but highlighted the team’s role in nurturing young talents. Marko said, “We are not satisfied with AlphaTauri’s current performance, neither are they themselves. But their main task is still to train our young talents so that they can take the next step. That worked well in the past, and the current example of Yuki Tsunoda shows that it still works today, despite the still meager score.”
Looking ahead, Marko expressed hopes for AlphaTauri’s improvement and revealed plans to expand cooperation with Red Bull Racing within the framework of regulations, allowing for more efficient resource utilization. It is anticipated that parts of the team will be relocated to England as part of these plans.
As Tsunoda continues to impress with his performances, his ambition to join a consistently high-performing team grows, while Red Bull evaluates their options for the future.
