The ‘rare, rare thing’ that made Tsunoda finally feel like a ‘real F1 driver’

Yuki Tsunoda has revealed one of the reasons why Racing Bulls pinned him down to a new one-year deal so early last season was to fend off interest from rival F1 teams.

Remarkably for Tsunoda, he claims it also made him “feel like a real Formula 1 driver” for the first time as the sport’s driver merry-go-round was spinning in earnest when he put pen to paper in early June.

The silly season last year was kicked off in extraordinary circumstances and exceptionally early, when it was announced on February 1 that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes at the end of the season to join Ferrari.

With so many drivers due to be out of contract at the end of the year – including Tsunoda – it sparked considerable speculation as to who may move on.

The fact Tsunoda also performed superbly over the opening few races, putting team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the shade, brought him attention, which prompted RB to step in.

“Yeah, definitely it helped,” said Tsunoda, speaking to RacingNews365 when asked as to how crucial it was his future was secured so early in a season for once.

“It was a rare, rare moment for the team. To renew the contract like that, in early June, was a very unusual thing.

“That gave me extra confidence, allowing me to focus on the rest of the season, one of the things I was targeted on.

“Also, I was starting to get interest from other teams as well, which made me feel like a real Formula 1 driver, getting interest.

“So it was a different situation, which confirmed the direction I was thinking, what I’m trying to do, is the right way.

“I would say it gave good confidence.”

Tsunoda heading in the right direction

It was all a far cry from three years previously at the end of 2021 when his team, then known as AlphaTauri, left it until the death to confirm he would continue into 2022.

Tsunoda was stunned at the time as he was convinced he would be released.

“It would be fair to say, what I did in the first half of that first year wasn’t great” said Tsunoda. “I was able to improve in the second half, but the first half was pretty bad.

“Part of the season why I didn’t perform, I can say now, was because of the change of chassis. Until then, I had never been able to be in Q3, even Q2. As soon as the chassis changed, I was consistently in Q3.

“There’s room to argue that it was just me, that I didn’t perform well.”

Tsunoda recognises how situations can change over time and has indicated what he would like for the future.

Whilst appreciative of the new one-year contract for next season, he feels it would be beneficial to be confirmed for a longer time. 

“My mentality, it’s a different perspective,” said Tsunoda. “I’m probably expecting more than just a contract for one year.

“Those perspective changes are the right way, right direction, and prove I’ve improved a lot of things, so yeah, it’s good.”