Yuki Tsunoda, currently in his fourth consecutive season in Formula 1 for the Faenza-based team, had a strong start to the 2024 season, showing consistent performance and speed.
The Japanese driver currently holds the tenth position in the Drivers’ Championship, having scored 14 points. It is widely acknowledged that Tsunoda had a better start to the year compared to his Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo, an experienced F1 driver with eight wins in the category.
During the recent Miami Grand Prix weekend, Tsunoda secured seven valuable points for himself and the RB team. He drove flawlessly and finished an impressive seventh in the main race.
Interestingly, the Red Bull sister team saw an improvement in their performance in Miami. Ricciardo qualified in fourth place for the Sprint and successfully defended his position against Carlos Sainz Jr. in the Ferrari during the Saturday race.
Undoubtedly, Tsunoda consistently extracts the maximum potential from his VCARB 01 car every weekend. RB team principal Mekies is excited about the remarkable progress the 24-year-old driver has made over the years.
Mekies expressed his satisfaction, stating: “Yuki has taken big steps this year. He showed improvement between his first and second year, and between his second and third year.”
He further emphasized the great progress Tsunoda has made in his fourth year, attributing his increased confidence behind the wheel to consistently finishing in the points. Mekies added: “In addition to possessing raw speed, which we already knew, he has taken it to another level. Now he can execute entire weekends without making a single mistake, from the first practice session to the race.”
Mekies highlighted Tsunoda’s exceptional performances in Australia and Japan, and acknowledged that he was close to achieving the same level of consistency in Miami.
With many years ahead in Formula 1, Tsunoda’s driving skills are expected to continue improving. Mekies believes there is still more to come from the young driver and the team is working diligently to provide an environment that fosters his growth.
In conclusion, Mekies expressed his admiration for Tsunoda’s work and the progress he has made, emphasizing his commitment to support him.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will mark the return of F1 to action at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, kicking off the first European weekend of the 2024 season. The race is scheduled to start at 14:00 BST (15:00 local time) on Sunday, May 19.
