Tsunoda on Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen: 'Clearly I deserve it'

"I could have been the one sitting on the bench now"

According to the Japanese driver, he has done all he's required to do to earn a promotion to Red Bull, after all, he has beaten almost every teammate he has been partnered with, with the exception of the now Alpine talent, Pierre Gasly. 

"to my teammates it's quite clear, the current teammates. And also quite clear what I've done this year, it's quite clear that I should get a chance. But I don't know, up to them. Formula One is also a politics sport as well, and anything can happen. I'm sure, partly, the last race here is quite important, but for me I feel like every race so far has been a very important race because I started first race fighting a bit with Daniel. I [could] be the person probably sitting on the sofa right now" Tsunoda stated to GPblog and others, before claiming he takes pride in proving some people wrong by beating the likes of Ricciardo and de Vries, drivers brought in to defeat him.

"I'm proud of consistently beating my teammates. Surprised other people. I guess most of the people thought Daniel would beat me. Liam can then beat me whatever. Nyck de Vries as well. I’m very proud I can keep proving them wrong. First points in Suzuka as well", the Japanese driver continued.

Have Marko or Horner reached out to Tsunoda yet?

Last time out, in Qatar, Tsunoda stated that maybe the media should ask team advisor, Helmut Marko and team principal, Horner, to see if they were contemplating him as a potential partner to Verstappen in Red Bull. The question arises once again in Yas Marina. "first of all we didn't talk. We don’t see [each other] much because the paddock is far away. I don't know. But I don't think so. I don't know because I asked a question and he said I’m keeping an eye on you. So he didn't forget or something like that, I guess. So I don't think I would necessarily say I completely got blocked by them. I hope. I don't know what they're feeling is inside the head, inside the heart but that’s what I got told".

If all happens the way it looks like it will happen, if Perez' exit from Red Bull is confirmed following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that is, Tsunoda reveals that he will be surprised if he doesn't get the then vacant seat at the Austrian team, but also, not, since it's unclear to him where Red Bull management are currently at. "I would be surprised, but in hindsight is not really surprising. But let's see who's driving that seat. Depending on the driver, yeah, I'd be maybe surprised but I don't know. It's just a lot of these rumors going on and it's hard to predict what they're thinking" a confused Tsunoda closed.

This article has been written with the hlep of Nicole Mulder