Yuki Tsunoda thinks that “other factors” are involved in Red Bull’s decision-making when it comes to assessing who could replace Sergio Perez in the Formula 1 team.
Perez’s wretched run which has comprised 21 points across the last seven races has seen rumours circulate that he could lose his season prior to the season ending.
But while he has accrued more than double the points his more experienced RB team-mate Daniel Ricciardo has gathered, Tsunoda isn’t linked as a leading candidate.
Ricciardo has been touted as the leading alternative to Perez should a mid-season swap transpire, while Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson tested the RB20 at Silverstone.
However, Tsunoda has reiterated his opinion that he should be under consideration to partner Max Verstappen based on his improved showings across the campaign.
“Well I guess for Red Bull drivers except Max all races are critical,” Tsunoda said when asked how critical this weekend is.
“I mean, it’s the last round, whatever, those things… You get quite used to it and just do my normal race.
“If you see the previous races, since race one it’s quite clear how much I’ve improved on the tracks.
“The amount of Q3 appearances, the amount of points taken on new tracks, I think that proves enough. Obviously this race will be important as well but we’ll see how it goes.”
Tsunoda is adamant that he’s fixated on his own on-track showings as he admitted that he is unsure whether Red Bull’s top brass were considering him as an option.
“At this point I don’t know if they’re considering me, maybe they’re considering me,” he commented.
“I don’t know. I guess it’s the same for everyone, I don’t think other drivers except Max get any information about that.
“Probably they are having conversations in the background, hopefully I’m in the conversation and I think I’ve done what I should have done.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done until today, and what should I do even more than that?
“You guys talk about the rumours and the Red Bull seat or whatever, it’s quite clear how many points I get compared to other drivers.
“So I’m happy with what I’ve done, it’s the things I can control.
“I can’t control those things, so I just focus on the things that I can control, which is performance, and see how it goes in this race.”
Tsunoda revealed that he has not held conversations with Red Bull boss Christian Horner or advisor Helmut Marko over recent weeks regarding his Red Bull chances.
However, he expressed that a resolution to the saga irrespective of the outcome would provide a welcome respite from the constant rumours swirling every weekend.
“I don’t know about other drivers. It seems like also other drivers they reacted like they don’t have that kind of conversation either.
“I don’t know about the driver who currently is not racing now, but these are things that… [I hope] they just decide as soon as possible.
“Obviously I would like to be in the seat, 100%, but it’s also not a really good feeling having rumours flying around and ‘Oh you need to have this race good’ or extra pressure, when I never even had any conversations or have any idea about that. I don’t know. But it’s how it goes. I’m just hoping.”
Tsunoda has suggested that being overlooked on this occasion would indicate that he has reached a ceiling on his career prospects within the Red Bull programme.
Asked whether he would sense he’s gone as far as he can with Red Bull, Tsunoda responded: “As a driver there are a couple of races where I could have done better.
“For example Montreal, I was in the points and I lost the points that were in my hands.
“But other times, just please compare the Q3 appearances, qualifying results and the race results, and it will be clear.
“So in my opinion, yes, it’s quite clear. But other than that I don’t know.”
The Japanese driver believes that external aspects would have been taken into account in the circumstance where another name is picked to replace Perez over him.
“I guess it seems like there are also other factors obviously, because they are considering other drivers as well,” he explained.
“It’s based on rumours, but… If you just see the performance, it’s quite clear like I said.
“It’s really clear that I’m the one performing well, even in the top of the midfield, if you compared to all the drivers. So, yeah.”
I’d love to see Yuki in the Red Bull…. Or maybe better not?