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What does Tsunoda need to do to beat Verstappen as the best rookie at AlphaTauri?
Yuki Tsunoda is one of the debutants in Formula 1 next year. The Japanese driver will race for AlphaTauri, a team where many drivers have already had their first chance in the top class of motorsport. How did Tsunoda's predecessors fare in their first season with Franz Tost's team? GPBlog.com figured it out!
We only look at the drivers who made their debut in the hybrid era. Those are Daniil Kvyat, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Brendon Hartley and Alexander Albon. Who was the best debutant so far?
Gasly and Hartley debut mid-season
In 2016 and 2017, there were no debutants at Toro Rosso at the start of the season. In 2017, however, the Faenza-based racing team ended with newcomers Gasly and Hartley. Because they both only competed in five Grands Prix or less and suddenly had to enter without any preparation towards the end of the year, 2018 has been held as the first (full) season of these drivers.
Alexander Albon did not complete an entire season at AlphaTauri, but he was able to experience the entire preparation, unlike Gasly and Hartley in 2018. For Albon, the position was taken until the summer break. In total, the British Thai competed 12 Grands Prix for AlphaTauri.
(When calculating the average finish position, the number of DNFs is omitted)
Verstappen the best
Max Verstappen has turned out to be the best rookie for Toro Rosso / AlphaTauri over the past seven seasons. The Dutchman scored the most points, finished highest in the standings and also has the highest average finish position. So Yuki Tsunoda knows what to do to follow in Verstappen's footsteps. If he wants to crown himself the best rookie at Toro Rosso / AlphaTauri, he has to set an amazing 2021, because the bar is high!
Next season, however, there are 23 weekends on the schedule, which makes the assignment a bit easier for Tsunoda. Verstappen only had 19 Grands Prix to collect 49 points.
In both 2015 and 2016, Toro Rosso finished seventh in the constructors' championship. For 2021, that should be the goal again (the formation itself is aiming for a place in the top five), because it can be assumed that Alfa Romeo Racing, Williams and Haas F1 can easily be beaten. The only thing is that in 2015 and 2016, 11 teams were on the grid. Next season there will be ten, just like in previous seasons.
Stay clear of the lower limit
The worst Red Bull junior in Formula 1 has turned out to be Brendon Hartley. The New Zealander was unable to impress and therefore managed to score the fewest points by far. His average final classification with 13.6 is also not something to write home about when compared with his colleagues.
This article was written and originally published by Corwin on the Dutch edition of GPblog.com.