Yuki Tsunoda’s spectacular Japanese Grand Prix made some historical past, as he turned the primary Japanese driver in 12 years to complete within the factors at residence.
His effort additionally caught the eye of one of many staff’s most crucial figures.
In his post-race column at Crimson Bull backed Pace Week, Dr. Helmut Marko hailed the drive from Tsunoda at Suzuka, making a surprising comparability alongside the best way. The Crimson Bull senior advisor had this to say about Tsunoda’s tenth-place end.
“On the second begin, Yuki did sensationally nicely. His overtaking maneuvers have been the present of the day. The followers have been utterly over the moon. His weekend was on the degree of Max [Verstappen], [Fernando] Alonso, and [company]. Flawless, a terrific efficiency beneath the strain of his residence race,” wrote the Crimson Bull senior advisor.
Tsunoda, alongside along with his teammate at Visa Money App RB F1 Staff Daniel Ricciardo, is one in all many drivers within the Crimson Bull fold eying a transfer to the primary staff alongside Verstappen for 2025. Sergio Pérez, the present occupant of that seat, is about to see his contract expire on the finish of 2024. Liam Lawson, at the moment a reserve driver at VCARB, is one other driver that spot, or any spot on the grid for subsequent season.
One drawback, nonetheless? Pérez has gotten off to a quick begin of his personal this yr. He completed second on Sunday, behind Verstappen, however certified on the entrance row alongside his teammate, giving Crimson Bull their first front-row lockout for the reason that 2023 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Marko, who had already praised Pérez’s qualifying effort in Japan, had extra reward for the Crimson Bull driver, calling his 2024 “his greatest season with us to this point.”
“Checo was additionally very stable. He was unfortunate on the pit cease, however he bought himself again into the sport with a terrific maneuver towards Hamilton within the [130R] nook. He’s undoubtedly having his greatest season with us to this point,” described Marko.
Marko then weighed in on the upcoming driver switch market, which appears to be one of many extra transformative within the historical past of System 1. The mixture of Lewis Hamilton saying forward of this season that he can be transferring to Ferrari for 2025, together with over half of the grid driving on an expiring contract, is making for some fascinating discussions across the paddock.
In accordance with Marko, nonetheless, Crimson Bull is completely happy to stay quiet and bide their time.
“For my part, the truth that the switch rumor mill is already cooking like this initially of April is because of a number of elements,” wrote Marko. “First: Hamilton introduced his transfer to Ferrari so early. And if Radio Paddock is to be trusted, Audi needs a choice from Carlos Sainz very quickly. Aston Martin can be placing strain in a number of instructions.
“We don’t participate in these video games. We received’t hear from Crimson Bull Racing till the center of the season about what’s happening by way of personnel.”
For Tsunoda to be linked with a possible transfer to Crimson Bull for 2025, nonetheless, is spectacular given how the season started. Within the Bahrain Grand Prix Tsunoda bristled at a set of staff orders to let Ricciardo by him within the closing phases, and aired his frustrations over the radio and on the cool-down lap.
Since then, nonetheless, Tsunoda has settled in and delivered some affected person performances. He banked VCARB’s first factors of the season with a seventh-place end in Australia, following that up along with his tenth-place end in Japan.
He has additionally out-qualified Ricciardo in all 4 races this season.
And when Marko is singing your praises, you might be doing one thing proper.
