Yuki Tsunoda has admitted that his contract with Red Bull has denied him the chance to explore possible opportunities elsewhere within Formula 1 in previous years.
Tsunoda is guaranteed to begin next season on the sidelines amid the announcement earlier this week that he won’t have a seat on the grid with either Red Bull team.
The Japanese driver was elevated into Red Bull’s senior setup two rounds into the campaign, but, like his predecessors, he has floundered alongside Max Verstappen.
While Verstappen goes into the last race in contention to seize the title, Tsunoda is down in 15th place in the Drivers’ Championship, 363 points behind the Dutchman.
That has prompted Red Bull to choose Isack Hadjar as Verstappen’s next team-mate, with Liam Lawson preserving his place at Racing Bulls to partner Arvid Lindblad.
Tsunoda has addressed that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was the one who told him about the decision, which occurred once the race in Qatar ended last weekend.
“Yeah, obviously I’m disappointed and p***ed off,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week. “And how I was told, it was right after the race, from Helmut.
“Surprisingly I’m okay, like, I mean, not okay, but like, I’m somewhat okay. Like, after this day [I found out the news], I ordered breakfast as usual, same food.
“Yeah, probably I’m not recognising it will be the last race for this year, or at least for next year.
“So, yeah, maybe I’ll feel more after Abu Dhabi, but yeah, that’s how it went and how I feel now.”
Why Tsunoda couldn’t act on external interest
Tsunoda divulged that there were times in the past when teams outside the Red Bull stable expressed an interest in him, but his deal prevented potential discussions.
Asked whether, in hindsight, he would’ve looked at other options, he replied: “Well, I didn’t have options. So, the thing is my contract was there, so it couldn’t be much.
“So, I had a couple of interests from that, externally, but yeah, the contract didn’t really allow me to talk with them. That’s why I was fully focused on the Red Bull seats.
“And I mean, anyway, it was my priority for the last few years. It was the Red Bull family, because it’s the place where I grew up as well. So, yeah, that’s it.”
Tsunoda will be bidding to emulate Alex Albon, who lost his race drive at Red Bull once the 2020 season concluded but has since revived his reputation with Williams.
The Honda-backed driver believes his demotion to the same test and reserve role that Albon occupied in 2021 will prove to be a valuable and enlightening experience.
“I’m excited to see from a different perspective, different eyes next year,” he explained.
“First time in my career that I’m not racing and I was not really sitting down in an office while people are racing. I can see more of the view, how the radio communication looks and whatever every driver is doing.
“So maybe I can learn a lot of things that I never imagined about. So I’m excited for that. And yeah, trying to also still try to be in this shape as much as possible. So when any opportunity comes, I’ll smash it with that opportunity. So yeah, until then, keep my shape good and wait for it.”
READ MORE – Yuki Tsunoda claims predecessors haven’t managed what he has in Red Bull F1 seat
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