Yuki Tsunoda has revealed that braking and slow-speed corners are the two main areas where he’s had the advantage over RB Formula 1 team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Tsunoda has had the measure over his more experienced partner at Red Bull’s second-string squad in 2024 and has qualified as the lead RB driver at all three rounds.
The Japanese driver capitalised on an attritional race in Australia to convert eighth on the grid into seventh place, bagging the rebranded squad’s first points this term.
However, Ricciardo endured a miserable home outing and was eliminated in Q1 when he had a lap time removed for track limits before crossing the line in 12th place.
Ricciardo’s voided lap was still three-tenths behind Tsunoda’s Q1 effort, leaving the Australian “puzzled” as to where he was spurning time to the driver in the sister car.
Asked to discuss how he’s producing quicker lap times than Ricciardo, Tsunoda highlighted his confidence under braking as a place he’s had the upper hand on his rival.
“I would say, so far, I think he, still probably based on what I experienced last three years, I know probably how to make this kind of characteristic of this car fast,” he said.
“Even most of the time actually I struggle a lot with the FP1 and FP2, more than him.
“Actually, he drives quite well. At the same time, I kind of, we always consistently turn around it quite well between FP2 and FP3 overnight, that’s how we can improve.
“Obviously, his characteristic also a little bit changed from last year as well, so still it’s not easy for me as well.
“As a driving side, we’re kind of similar, I would say, but probably for my strengths is braking, so even previous drivers, I have pretty good confidence, like not much driver can do my braking.
“So the braking is my strength and I think we are able to at least maximise the performance on this braking.”
Put to him that it was braking along with better initial corner rotation that was making the difference, he replied: “I would say so. Sort of like more slow-speed corners.”
Tsunoda is now in his fourth F1 campaign with the Faenza-based squad, which underwent a rebrand over the winter as it bids to improve its outlook from past seasons.
RB has welcomed a host of senior recruits, with Tsunoda pinpointing the appointment of ex-long-serving Alpine Sporting Director Alan Permane as an inspired choice.
“I would say the team changed quite a lot, but probably one thing that didn’t change much is the driver, at least myself,” Tsunoda addressed.
“I’ve been here already four years and I just want to [be] someone [that] hopefully the team can rely on, especially I want to be like a stable guy at least to help them to face the same direction or as a development side help them to think in the right way. Based on my experience last three years from this team.
“At the same time, yeah, I think most of the people, I said the mechanics, for example, engineers, not changing much.
“Obviously the top guys change a lot. So, yeah, I think those parts definitely still we need a bit of time to adapt, but at the same time, I think we’re all working really well so far.
“Alan, we’re very happy and I think he’s definitely giving a lot of experience from him and a kind of winning mindset from his experience, definitely helping for us to even push harder than last previous years. So, yeah, definitely we’re in the right way, for sure.”
Daniel’s deleted time was 0.11 seconds behind Tsunoda’s Q1 time, not three tenths.