Yuki Tsunoda has revealed his work behind the scenes at Red Bull to improve his competitiveness as speculation over his Formula 1 future intensifies.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved to be a turning point for Tsunoda, who had experienced a turbulent time since stepping up to the parent Red Bull team.
Qualifying in sixth, he drove an attacking race, battling with like the likes of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, finishing where he started.
That he was able to out race a McLaren and both Ferrari’s demonstrated a dramatic increase in performance and pace compared to previous rounds.
Speaking to media ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Tsunoda revealed that he did not speak to senior team members, but understands what he must do.
“I didn’t talk to Helmut, or anyone from Red Bull, after Baku, but for me the target is clear. The thing I have to do is quite clear,” Tsunoda said.
“I’ve shown those things in one race so far, at least in one good race with P6.
“But as soon as I came here for the second half of the season, I think the Q3 performances are there and the points are there.
“It’s going in the right direction. I’m at least showing that I’m able to improve myself compared to the first half of the season.”
Tsunoda goes back to basics to find a solution
Tsunoda s improved form coincides with the arrival of Laurent Mekies as Team Principal, the duo having worked together at Racing Bulls in previous years.
The Japanese driver lifted the lid on the impact of Mekies on his set-up choices, indicating a change in approach.
“Laurent has helped me with a lot of things,” he explained. “The set-up that I tried two races ago, for example, was the one that I used at almost every race at VCARB.
“I kind of forgot about these things, also that specific set-up, as I thought it was default at the previous team.
“When I came to this team, it was different how they set up the car and things like that.”
Expanding more, Tsunoda said Mekies encouraged him to revert back to methods utilised in his Racing Bulls tenure, confirming it was beginning to have an effect.
“Laurent told the engineering side ‘Okay, Yuki was doing these kinds of things to add some performance on one of the axles or to drive it around certain corners’.
When I tried those things in the Red Bull car, they actually still worked. The feeling that I got from the car is much more familiar now, more what I used to have.”
“Without Laurent’s ideas, I wouldn’t have been able to come up with it myself. That’s what I appreciate.
“Also on the relationship side, it’s always been very good. It’s literally what I used to have at VCARB.
“It feels exactly the same, just the team logos are different now when I speak with him!”
This momentum did not carry over to Singapore, where he struggled around at the back of the field, coming home in a disappointing 12th position.
However, Tsunoda maintains that he enjoyed his best race of the season in Singapore, believing the trend introduced in Baku will continue to pay off.
READ MORE – Yuki Tsunoda reveals positive to point-less F1 Singapore GP amid Red Bull seat uncertainty
Discussion about this post