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Visa Cash App RB F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda claimed that he was ready to take the fight to Red Bull driver and three-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Japanese driver has emerged as one of the best performers on the grid this year and produced some eye-catching performances in a midfield car against Daniel Ricciardo.
Despite his results in 2024, the 24-year-old was not considered as a potential by the Red Bull F1 team to be a replacement for Sergio Perez when there were reports that the Austrian team might drop the Mexican after the summer break.
A product of the Red Bull and Honda junior program, Tsunoda is currently in his fourth season in the sport, and speaking with Autosport, he shared his belief that he would present a tough challenge to Verstappenif given the opportunity by the Austrian team to drive the same car. He said:
"They know my performance and they are happy with my performance. That's why they extended my contract for next year, so it's pretty clear. I just have to keep performing, and keep making them happy consistently, and, hopefully, things will come naturally.
"I just keep focused on what I can do but obviously, I'm feeling ready to fight against higher positions and teams, and also fight against Max. But they have to decide."
Yuki Tsunoda gives his take on learning from Max Verstappen
RB driver Yuki Tsunoda stated that there were a lot of things that he could learn from competing in the same car alongside Max Verstappen, such as his prowess in wet and changing conditions.
Speaking with RacingNews365, the Japanese driver said:
"[there is] a lot of things I can learn, especially consistency with any conditions like half-wet, dry, dry-wet, wet conditions. Multiple condition changes, he's always somehow adapted really, really well.
"That's why he was very consistent last year, being able to 19 races, and last year, there were a lot of multiple weather changes [during races] and those moments won't be as much car-performance dominated." he said.
Tsunoda also added:
"If you're a really bad driver and driving a good car, you're still a bad driver and will easily lose positions, so that's why he's [Verstappen] able to win consistently. So, those things, for sure, I can learn a lot."
The 24-year-old renewed his contract for the 2025 season with the RB F1 team after he helped the team have a stranglehold on P6 in the Constructor's Championship with 34 after 14 races and three Sprints thus far.
Tsunoda has scored 22 points in the season and is tied with Nico Hulkenberg but is behind the German in the Driver's Championship in P12, due to the latter's pair of P6s scored in Austria and Silverstone.
