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Debate | Ricciardo will finish above Tsunoda in the 2023 World Championship

31 July 2023 at 19:30
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  • Sam Godber

AlphaTauri took a point in the Belgian Grand Prix for the third time this season and once again it was thanks to Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese provided all three driver World Championship points for the Faenza-based. But with Daniel Ricciardo, he does have a formidable team-mate there, who can start reaping his own rewards in the second half of the season. Or is that not so bad?  

Ricciardo has now completed two GP weekends at AlphaTauri. In Hungary he made his return to Formula 1 and was immediately faster than Tsunoda in qualifying and in the race, but in Belgium it was the Japanese who dominated, crossing the line in tenth place.

Ricciardo vs Tsunoda in second half of season

The 34-year-old Ricciardo still has 10 races to pass Tsunoda in the world championship. Red Bull Racing's expectations are high, as they saw the Australian excel during the Pirelli tyre test in the RB19 at the Silverstone circuit. Of course, Ricciardo will have to get used to the AT04, but what will he be capable of once he gets used to it? It must be said that scoring (many) points with the current AlphaTauri has proved very difficult.

We will therefore get a clearer picture of how good Tsunoda really is, because, as mentioned, at Red Bull they still have a very high opinion of Ricciardo. The outcome of the duel between the two AlphaTauri drivers may also still be important for a possible Red Bull seat for 2024, should Perez fail badly in the second half of the season in the RB19 alongside Max Verstappen.

What do you think about the statement: Ricciardo is going to finish above Tsunoda in the 2023 World Championship. Let us know in the poll and join the discussion in the comments!