The continued hypothesis about Sergio Pérez’s job safety continues forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
And now one of many drivers within the combine at Pink Bull has thrown his hat into the ring.
Talking forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix Yuki Tsunoda, who lately signed a contract extension of his personal at Visa Money App RB F1 Staff, made his case for a spot alongside Max Verstappen ought to Pink Bull make a change.
“Yeah. If I’m not prepared, I wouldn’t have been in a position to announce subsequent season no less than for even VCARB,” stated Tsunoda when talking with the media on Thursday. “Clearly, I’m feeling prepared, in comparison with the final three years, to struggle towards prime groups, increased positions, even with Max or no matter.”
Requested immediately if he felt he was prepared for a seat at Pink Bull, Tsunoda replied merely: “Yeah.”
Tsunoda was additionally requested concerning the hypothesis that it might be Liam Lawson sliding into Pérez’s seat, leaping from a reserve function with each Pink Bull and VCARB into some of the coveted seats within the sport. Tsunoda conceded that in his thoughts no less than, that may be “bizarre.”
“In the event that they select Liam, that may be bizarre. However I imply, for me no less than… I don’t assume so,” stated Tsunoda. “For certain, Liam did a very good job when he drove for the staff, however I feel I did greater than that. We’ll see the way it goes. Ultimately, they know the way to handle drivers.”
Lawson stepped into a task with AlphaTauri — now VCARB — final season when the staff sacked Nyck de Vries forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix, changing him with Daniel Ricciardo. When Ricciardo suffered an harm on the Dutch Grand Prix it was Lawson’s flip, and he drove in 5 totally different races for the staff.
Over that stretch he completed within the factors as soon as, delivering a P9 for AlphaTauri on the Singapore Grand Prix. These two factors have been the one scored by the staff, Tsunoda included, throughout Lawson’s five-race stint.
Finally, Tsunoda is aware of the choice is within the staff’s palms, and that there is no such thing as a signal Pink Bull is speeding something.
“However ultimately, they’re those who’re going to resolve and it’s not a factor I can management. So I’m simply specializing in what I’ve to do within the subsequent two races,” stated Tsunoda.
“Checo, they announce it two races earlier than, a race earlier than, and Checo would possibly carry out actually, very well, and if a driver’s performing effectively they don’t have cause to vary driver,” added the VCARB driver. “Ultimately, what they’re doing for certain is an effective factor for Checo as a result of they don’t wish to create any stress and that’s positively honest. Additionally for myself, they need me to deal with what I’m doing proper now. We don’t have severe talks and dialog but.”
On the season Tsunoda has 20 of VCARB’s 31 factors, as he has outscored teammate Ricciardo 20-11 on the season. Whereas Ricciardo’s greatest end in a Grand Prix this yr was an eighth-place end on the Canadian Grand Prix — he additionally completed fourth within the F1 Dash Race in Miami — Tsunoda has a pair of P7 outcomes on the marketing campaign, coming in Australia and Miami.
