Are there greener pastures for the Japanese driver?

Tsunoda is open to leaving and wants to be able to make his own choice one day

F1 News

Yuki Tsunoda is open to a departure at Red Bull
25 June 2023 at 12:53
Last update 25 June 2023 at 14:39
  • GPblog.com

AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda is open to leaving Red Bull. For now, the Japanese, who now drives for the sister team, is happy with his spot at the Italian racing stable, which hopes to put itself in the spotlight, the driver told GivemeSport.

Tsunoda delivers strong performances in his AT04 on a weekly basis. For now, his Dutch teammate Nyck De Vries cannot match his speed, but even former teammate Pierre Gasly struggled to keep up with the Japanese driver at the end of last season. The chances of a seat at Red Bull seem slim, the driver himself agrees: "I think Checo has a contract to the end of next year, and I guess Red Bull are happy with him."

Tsunoda wants to choose for himself

Still, Tsunoda does not seem to have to worry about a lack of interest. "It's good to have more attention not just from Red Bull. I don't get to choose what team I want to go to. I think Red Bull will still get to choose, so I want to get to a point as a driver where I get to choose." The talent's wish list is not huge. "I want to go to a team that I know, based on the last few years, has been consistently high," he said. The 23-year-old driver hints that that could also be AlphaTauri, in which case there would be no reason to leave.