Yuki Tsunoda has heaped praise on his former Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, acknowledging the Australian driver as the one he’s learned the most from during his time in Formula 1. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Japanese driver expressed his gratitude and reflected on the lessons he’s absorbed from Ricciardo during their stint together.
Ricciardo’s sudden exit from Red Bull’s junior team earlier this season, replaced by Liam Lawson for the final six races, marked a significant turning point in the driver lineup, leaving a gap that Tsunoda is eager to fill with his own growth. Tsunoda, who has been a fixture at Red Bull’s second team since his F1 debut in 2021, shared the emotional conversation he had with Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix.
“We spoke after the race in Singapore, we said thank you and appreciated each other, and I was a bit emotional, to be honest,” Tsunoda said. “He’s been a very good teammate, and I think he’s the driver I’ve learned the most from out of any of my teammates.”
As Ricciardo takes a step back, enjoying some time off, Lawson steps into the spotlight, not just to fill the seat for the remainder of the 2024 season, but to potentially audition for a future role in Red Bull’s senior team alongside Max Verstappen. Amid the uncertainty surrounding Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull, Lawson’s performance could be critical in shaping the 2025 lineup.
However, Tsunoda remains unfazed by the speculation surrounding who will be promoted within the Red Bull ranks, confident in his own abilities and focused on the job at hand. Despite the competitive pressure, he downplayed any rivalry with Lawson.
“We’ve had this situation already with Daniel, so, to be honest, I got used to it. I don’t think there’s any point in talking about it,” Tsunoda explained. “I just have to keep proving myself and how I work throughout the race weeks. It’s up to them, and we’ll see how it goes.”
For Tsunoda, the immediate focus is clear: securing sixth place in the Constructors’ standings, where Red Bull’s junior team holds a slim three-point lead over Haas. He emphasized that, despite Lawson’s arrival, the team’s dynamic remains strong.
“I don’t think it’s going to change the dynamic,” Tsunoda said. “Liam’s not new to the team. We’ve both experienced similar situations, and what motivates us right now is to keep our position in P6 until the end of the season. I’m sure Liam will do a good job as well.”
As the 2024 season draws to a close, Tsunoda and Lawson’s performances will be closely watched, with both drivers aiming to solidify their positions in a potentially shifting Red Bull driver lineup.
