Red Bull’s outspoken technical advisor, Helmut Marko, has offered a candid assessment of Yuki Tsunoda, attributing the Japanese driver’s inability to secure a Red Bull Racing seat to his lack of reliability and stability, despite flashes of brilliance in his performances for VCARB.
“Speed Without Continuity Isn’t Enough” – Marko
Tsunoda, the longest-serving member of Red Bull’s junior driver program, has demonstrated competitive pace throughout his time in Formula 1. However, his inconsistent results and occasional mistakes have hampered his case for promotion to the senior team.
- Marko’s Analysis:
“He has now delivered two very good races in Brazil and Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he made two stupid mistakes in Brazil before that. Yuki has the speed, but he lacks continuity and stability. But when it works for him, it works very well.”
While Tsunoda recently secured P9 in Las Vegas and P7 in Brazil, these moments of promise have been undercut by errors that prevent him from being seen as a consistent, dependable option for Red Bull.
Tsunoda’s Frustration: “It Doesn’t Make Sense”
For Tsunoda, the lack of recognition for his efforts is puzzling. The 24-year-old has consistently outperformed his teammates and feels he has met the criteria typically expected for a promotion within the Red Bull system.
- Tsunoda on His Situation:
“What they’re doing is, I guess, not a bad thing, but it doesn’t really make sense for me that I didn’t get in the mix much so far. I can’t find much reason that they aren’t really talking about me so far.”
Path Forward for Tsunoda
Heading into the final rounds of the 2024 season, Tsunoda’s priorities are clear:
- Minimizing Mistakes: Consistency remains the biggest knock against him, and improving on this front could help sway Red Bull’s management.
- Helping VCARB Climb in the Constructors’ Championship: A strong team finish could bolster his stock as a team player capable of delivering under pressure.
Tsunoda’s aspirations for promotion are also complicated by the depth of Red Bull’s talent pool, which includes drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. For now, his future remains uncertain, but strong performances in the remaining races could keep his hopes alive.