Tsunoda gets advice from ex-teammate: 'There is more to it than just raw speed'

07:50, 03 Apr

byKada Sarkozi

Just after two rounds, it was announced that Red Bull Racing will replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda with intermediate effect. Pierre Gasly, who was previously as the same boat as the driver from New Zealand, explained that he shared tips with his former teammate.

Unlike top advisor Helmut Marko, Pierre Gasly did call Yuki Tsunoda after it was announced that the aforementioned driver swap will take place ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

"Yes, we spoke on the phone. Obviously, the way that I was also given this opportunity, and just in terms of what didn't quite work out and things that could have been different," Gasly began in Japan.

The Frenchman backs his former teammate, who now is set to begin his next adventure.

"I think he's got the experience, he's got the speed, I've always backed him up. I've raced against him and with him for two years. I've seen his raw speed. I've seen what he was capable of doing already back at the time. And I was always, I can look back in 2021, all these years, I've always said he was an extremely fast driver. So he's got the speed. I think he's got a strong character."

'More complicated' than just having the necessary pace

The driver, who wished both Tsunoda and Lawson the best, however believes there is more to being successful at Red Bull Racing than just pure speed.

"Does it mean he's going to be successful in Red Bull Racing? No. Can he be successful in Red Bull Racing? Yes, but it's slightly more complicated. I just wish him the best."

"I've shared my thoughts and my experience from my time there. Time will tell, but I think he's definitely a very strong driver. And in Formula One right now, these days, you've got many strong drivers on the grid. So it's not all down to your speed. There's slightly more to it. Definitely, hopefully, he can make the best out of this opportunity," he continued.

Gasly saw Tsunoda improve

The two drivers competed for AlphaTauri (currently called Racing Bulls) together in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Gasly already saw by then that the Japanese driver is very fast, but also saw him improve in other key areas.

"I think he always had the raw speed. He was a little bit too hectic behind the wheel at times on the radio. I think in that sense he's matured enough in minimising the mistakes. It's a fine line between pushing right at the limit or overpushing slightly too much, which can be quite costly in Formula 1."

"And I think he's tuned that line. And looking at the past few seasons, I think he's been putting [down] a very strong performance. Speed-wise he's always at it, but I think in just minimising those mistakes, which could have been quite costly at the time," the one-time Grand Prix winner concluded.