Yuki Tsunoda is to be given “more time” at Red Bull, according to the team’s advisor Helmut Marko, despite admitting to “serious” issues regarding his form with the Formula 1 giants.
The Japanese driver was shoehorned into the Milton Keynes-based squad after just two Grands Prix this year, replacing Liam Lawson.
Despite out-performing the Kiwi, Tsunoda’s form has still been a cause for concern, scoring just seven points in his seven race weekends completed for the team.
Tsunoda was perhaps his most despondent after last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, saying that something was “not right” with the unpredictable RB21.
This has opened up a fresh debate about the supposed curse of the second driver at the team, with Max Verstappen a country mile ahead, despite the difficulties the car is providing.
However, Marko, writing in his Speedweek column, believes that Tsunoda will be given until the end of the season, particularly given its Constructors’ Championship chances are slim.
“In the Constructors’ Championship, we’ve already written off the overall victory, so we don’t have any chance,” Marko wrote.
“Of course, this is also related to the second driver, because Yuki Tsunoda is slow to get going.
“It is serious that Yuki is often only a tenth of a second behind in the free practice sessions, and when it comes to qualifying, the gap opens up. Then the pressure is there, and it is more difficult under pressure.
“In addition, he can’t adapt as quickly as Max, who doesn’t need a period of acclimatisation.
“For Yuki, on the other hand, the car is not yet so present, he has more trouble there, and of course there is always adjustment work, because you try a lot when you are in the back.”
Marko concluded by confirming he will be afforded more races to rectify the issue, but based it on an assumption, saying: “He needs more time and he will get it.
“We assume that he will be in the car until the end of the season.”
Can Tsunoda turn his troubles around?
Red Bull’s second seat woes started with Daniel Ricciardo’s exit from the team in 2018, and with the promotions of its then-junior drivers Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon failing, it turned to old hand Sergio Perez to take the reins.
After two respectable seasons as a foil for Verstappen, he too was shown the exit, but, like Tsunoda, was blighted by a below-par machine, as Verstappen again utilised all his superior skill to win a fourth straight championship.
Valtteri Bottas has also theorised that maybe a driver with his experience may be better-placed to tackle the tricky car, but it seems that Tsunoda will be able to see out the year.
Verstappen himself has defended Tsunoda, saying he is “not a pancake,” and saying the second driver issues had been “going on for a long time“.
This appears to leave Tsunoda requiring a significant improvement of the RB21 by the team to enable him to reassert himself and retain the faith Marko and Christian Horner showed in him.
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