Daniel Ricciardo has implied that Red Bull has continued to overlook RB team-mate Yuki Tsunoda due to doubts over how he could handle the sharp end in Formula 1.
Tsunoda has produced an impressive campaign this term to spearhead RB’s rise to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 10 points more than Ricciardo.
But although Sergio Perez’s woes have placed his seat at Red Bull in doubt, Ricciardo and reserve Liam Lawson are considered more likelier candidates than Tsunoda.
Nevertheless, Tsunoda’s stellar showings have earned him a contract renewal with RB into 2025, ensuring that he will remain on the grid with the Faenza-based camp.
Ricciardo believes that his less experienced team-mate’s exploits this term have helped to begin dispelling the narratives that were still tied to his rookie F1 campaign.
“I think now he’s definitely getting probably the credit that he deserves,” Ricciardo told Motorsport.com
“Probably a lot of people still think about his first year where he made a lot of mistakes, and it felt like his adjustment into Formula 1, it just felt like maybe he couldn’t really adjust and it was all a bit too much.
“[In 2021 and 2022, Pierre] Gasly was consistently beating him, but then I remember the second half of that year, he actually started to probably have a better showing than Gasly.
“He’s definitely grown a lot in the last couple of years. So yes, he’s fast. Do I rate him? I do.
“He’s probably become a bit more aware of his attitude as well. I think he’s doing a really good job.”
Tsunoda is adamant that he is prepared to step up to the poisoned chalice drive alongside Max Verstappen, but Red Bull has been unenamoured with that proposition.
But with Red Bull proving premature for Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, Ricciardo has hinted that it harbours reservations about Tsunoda coping with the added pressure.
The Australian, who holds his own ambition to return to Red Bull, has compared the situation to when Lando Norris buckled when he was exposed to the front in 2021.
“I think [Tsunoda has] grown a lot in the last few years, and I think is showing some really good pace and skill,” he added. “I think he’s showing more consistency now.
“You just don’t know what happens when it’s the next [level], and I even look back at Lando in Monza. I won, he was second. The next race he was on pole, he was leading.
“In that moment the experience and the composure of Lewis [Hamilton] won him that race and lost Lando the race. Maybe three years ago, that was maybe a little bit too much for Lando.
“What I’m saying is you just don’t know until you’re in that position if someone can really do it.
“We’ve all got the speed, but it’s like when the lights are fully turned up, who can still make those decisions and stay most composed.
“Yuki has to answer that in due time, but my answer is definitely not no. I do think he’s got the ability, but that part is up to him.”
