Yuki Tsunoda isn’t worried about his Formula 1 future despite being out of contract at the end of 2023 and doesn’t want to think about the possibility of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull in 2024.
Following a mixed couple of seasons, Tsunoda started 2023 impressively, picking up a pair of 10th place finishes as well as a Q3 appearance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“I am really happy [being] with the Red Bull family,” said Tsunoda exclusively told Total-Motorsport.com. “I feel comfortable here, [I am] able to just be myself.
“As a driver, it’s good to have attention from other teams, but for now, I am happy with AlphaTauri. [They’ve] supported over the last few years, so I am not considering other teams.
“If there’s an opportunity to go to Red Bull, that will be amazing. But like I said, [I am] not thinking too much about [2024], and there’s not much reason to go outside AlphaTauri.”
Increased confidence in 2022 went under the radar
After a problematic rookie year, Tsunoda went somewhat under the radar in 2022 as he picked up 12 points and AlphaTauri fell to ninth in the F1 constructors’ championship.
Tsunoda’s then-teammate Pierre Gasly, who left AlphaTauri at the end of 2022 to join Alpine in place of Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso, didn’t do much better, picking up 18 points and was outqualified nine times by his Japanese teammate in 2022.
Throughout 2023, Tsunoda regularly out-drove Nyck de Vries, outqualifying and outracing the 2021 Formula E world champion 8-2 in the teammate head to heads, before the Dutchman was dumped mid-season from AlphaTauri for Daniel Ricciardo.
“Everyone said I got confidence from this year,” said Tsunoda. “But at the same time, not many people watched my races last year.
“[In] most of the qualifying sessions in dry conditions, I was beating Pierre. I’ve [got] good confidence. I’ve put it all together more [often] this year in the race and qualifying.
“I don’t have to worry much about the contract, I’m focusing now more on what I have to do in the race to deliver the results.”
Where is the next F1 2023 race?
With the F1 circus finished at Silverstone, we move on to the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix which will be held at the Hungaroring, Budapest over the weekend of July 21-23.
