Driver Yuki Tsunoda

**Born Racer** · 19 Jun 2021, 04:05 (Ref:4057096)

This guy is rather hilarious. He's put in a few good performances up against what you'd now consider to be a seasoned and consistent performer, but it's fascinating to see how not all F1 drivers are as polished and clasically-media trained as you might expect. He comes across as someone who has been drafted in from outside the bubble and has suddenly found himself as an F1 driver.

For instance, from the racecraft side, he's obviously very self-critical, which is positive in a self-analytical way, berating himself for getting passed by two drivers in the final laps of Baku, but I found it surprising that he couldn't figure out how it happened. Watching back the onboards (on those rather excellent 'best onboard' YouTube videos formula1.com put out now), he appeared to place his car okay, but it just seemed to be fairly typical wheel-to-wheel dicing that he lost out on.

Then, there's the fact that he's been a potty mouth on the radio (standard F1 fare, but usually as your confidence and standing grows, I thought, and not as a newcomer) and needs to develop his temperament and has been moved to Italy.

An appealing driver to watch, as he's a bit raw and it seems like we're watching F1 in the 70s again.

Richard C · 19 Jun 2021, 06:04 (Ref:4057106)

He has the potential to be the new Kimi. Not in a classic Kimi way, but more like how fan get a kick out how how Kimi is and his approach to F1.

Richard

**Born Racer** · 19 Jun 2021, 08:50 (Ref:4057113)

Yes, Richard. He manages to be simultaneously nonchalant and irate.

S griffin · 19 Jun 2021, 09:03 (Ref:4057116)

Certainly is a bit of a change from the norm is Yuki. He's got the talent as shown in Bahrain and Baku, so let's hope he continues with the good performances. No reason why he can't

chillibowl · 19 Jun 2021, 13:08 (Ref:4057141)

Was feeling it early in the season but he makes far too many mistakes to have a 'fun' personality imo.

Hopefully his ability catches up to his on track performances.

**Adam43** · 19 Jun 2021, 13:11 (Ref:4057142)

I’m impressed with him. Managing to find the barrier at Paul Ricard. That’s special.

chillibowl · 19 Jun 2021, 13:12 (Ref:4057143)

timely incident or a timely comment on my part!

2nd quali in a row where he red flagged it.

**Adam43** · 19 Jun 2021, 13:24 (Ref:4057149)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

timely incident or a timely comment on my part!

Good timing.

Quote:

2nd quali in a row where he red flagged it.

I suspect the internet world is about to change its view on this driver.

chillibowl · 19 Jun 2021, 13:37 (Ref:4057154)

You never know...a properly timed and witty comment could still win the day for him!

crmalcolm · 19 Jun 2021, 13:41 (Ref:4057159)

Yuki Ts-'oh-no' da?

**chunterer** · 19 Jun 2021, 14:12 (Ref:4057169)

Oops so here it is!

Unless there was a failure, that was pretty crap to bin it like that at Turn 1.

I admire so many people's optimism that he is something special in the making but I have never seen anything to suggest he is.

He is looking more and more out of his depth at the moment.

BTCC frog · 19 Jun 2021, 19:34 (Ref:4057204)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

I admire so many people's optimism that he is something special in the making but I have never seen anything to suggest he is.

Remember, on his first qualifying lap in Formula 1, Yuki Tsunoda went second fastest (in Q1). That was extremely impressive and is surely the reason why he was initially so highly rated.

But since then, he hasn't really had any positive standout moments. Bahrain was a respectable drive to 9th, but as Gasly showed in qualifying, the car was capable of top 5, so his drive there was very overhyped. Imola was, of course, a disaster, as he crashed in qualifying and spun in the race. In Portugal, Spain and Monaco, he was woefully off Gasly's pace. Then Baku seemed like a redemption as he took his best ever grid slot and race finish, but really he was still behind Gasly and he crashed in qualifying. Then obviously this crash in France was poor too.

I believe that Tsunoda will improve to become a competent driver with a few podiums in the future (hence why he remains in my fantasy team despite being outscored by Mazepin), as he is clearly quick, as he showed in Q1 in Bahrain. But I do not see him as a future champion, as was suggested after Bahrain.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/br...years/5975766/

steve_r · 19 Jun 2021, 20:05 (Ref:4057210)

He obviously has talent, and has had a couple of good races, as well as a couple of bad ones and soem mistakes, but as a rookie he needs to be given time. Red Bull are constantly looking for the next Vettel, and seemingly not interested in the next Sainz, but as we can see Sainz is actually a good peddler.

V8 Fireworks · 19 Jun 2021, 21:46 (Ref:4057233)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

Red Bull are constantly looking for the next Vettel, and seemingly not interested in the next Sainz, but as we can see Sainz is actually a good peddler.

Sainz is indeed very good, and was pretty close to Verstappen in many ways at Toro Rosso. The fact Sainz and Verstappen (or their camps) did not get on seems to have been the biggest impediment to Sainz getting a Red Bull call-up.

Tsunoda does seem rather inconsistent! With Honda's backing, Tsunoda will surely see out the season but maybe Albon will be back at Faenza next season?

Dixie Flatline · 20 Jun 2021, 00:14 (Ref:4057251)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Oops so here it is!

Unless there was a failure, that was pretty crap to bin it like that at Turn 1.

I admire so many people's optimism that he is something special in the making but I have never seen anything to suggest he is.

He is looking more and more out of his depth at the moment.

Seems to have a great talent for putting his car in the wall, even in the most unlikely of places.

S griffin · 20 Jun 2021, 05:15 (Ref:4057262)

What's that old saying? You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette. There is no doubt Yuki has got the speed, he just needs to temper that speed with control. That said they were talking on C4 about the possibility of bringing Albon back in his place and considering Red Bull's past record on dropping drivers, it would not surprise me if that were to happen

wnut · 20 Jun 2021, 06:18 (Ref:4057271)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

What's that old saying? You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette. There is no doubt Yuki has got the speed, he just needs to temper that speed with control. That said they were talking on C4 about the possibility of bringing Albon back in his place and considering Red Bull's past record on dropping drivers, it would not surprise me if that were to happen

He has not exactly blown away Gasly at any stage though.

Hawkwood · 20 Jun 2021, 07:53 (Ref:4057280)

A rookie who's done 6 F1 races hasn't blown away their F1 race winning team mate? Shocking.

When did we stop giving rookies time before writing them off as 'out of their depth'?
I remember rookies used to be given time on this forum, to make mistakes in their debut season.

wnut · 20 Jun 2021, 08:52 (Ref:4057285)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

A rookie who's done 6 F1 races hasn't blown away their F1 race winning team mate? Shocking.

When did we stop giving rookies time before writing them off as 'out of their depth'?
I remember rookies used to be given time on this forum, to make mistakes in their debut season.

Ever since Max showed what class looks like!

Fair point though.

BTCC frog · 20 Jun 2021, 09:20 (Ref:4057287)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

A rookie who's done 6 F1 races hasn't blown away their F1 race winning team mate? Shocking.

When did we stop giving rookies time before writing them off as 'out of their depth'?
I remember rookies used to be given time on this forum, to make mistakes in their debut season.

I agree he should be given more time, and dropping him for Albon would be ridiculous at this stage as he clearly has a lot of talent. I just think he hasn't yet lived up to expectations so far. He will get there though, and in a few years, I think he will be roughly as good as Gasly or Ocon.

P38 in workshop · 20 Jun 2021, 09:42 (Ref:4057293)

He began the year really well,but now Gasly's star seems to be in the ascendant.Both seem to be sitting in a really fast car and the gap to the Milton Keynes squad seems to have narrowed.I don't see either of them getting switched into a Red Bull just yet as they seem to have a very useful driver combination there.Which seems to mean that Albon and Kvyat are both useful drivers sidelined by Dr Marko and with no obvious place to go,but with more talent than some of the backmarkers.I would have thought that the lightest driver on the grid would be a useful boost to the car's performance.

steve nielsen · 20 Jun 2021, 10:05 (Ref:4057295)

Yuki must learn to do a banker lap before going 100%, it should not take 3 crashes in qualifying to learn that

**Born Racer** · 20 Jun 2021, 10:23 (Ref:4057297)

Quote:

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yuki Ts-'oh-no' da?

Making puns out of drivers' names? Tsu-no-dat's unfair.

broadrun96 · 21 Jun 2021, 19:14 (Ref:4057672)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

What's that old saying? You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette. There is no doubt Yuki has got the speed, he just needs to temper that speed with control. That said they were talking on C4 about the possibility of bringing Albon back in his place and considering Red Bull's past record on dropping drivers, it would not surprise me if that were to happen

That sounds like TV talking heads saying things to get tweeted out and generate traffic. Quite possibly as dumb an idea as if they were to announce they have traded contracts with Haas and were taking on Mazepin. Except Mazepin can actually pay cash for his mistakes. There's nothing to be gained by dumping a driver again with no testing and little time in the car for a guy who's been jerked every which way for the last couple seasons.

bathurst77 · 25 Jun 2021, 03:23 (Ref:4058087)

Its easier to make a fast but crash prone driver more careful in time and a race winner, than it is to make a slower but never crash driver go fast enough to be one.
Max Verstappen was call crashstappen at first.

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