Tsunoda: From Chaos to Calm in F1 Evolution

Yuki Tsunoda opens up on personal growth, evolving from emotional struggles to a more composed, consistent F1 driver over the seasons.

Yuki Tsunoda was asked about the progress he’s made since his F1 debut, as he prepares to enter his fifth season in Formula 1.

The Racing Bulls driver explains how he has evolved, speaking of himself in the third person:

“Today’s Yuki is more controlled. He’s just a complete driver, emotionally, in terms of consistency, energy management, everything.”

“I feel that compared to 2021, as a person—not just on the track but also off it—I feel different, in a good way, I’d say. Calmer,” Tsunoda told Motorsport Week.

When asked if the moment he had to let Daniel Ricciardo pass early in the 2023 season played a role in his newfound calmness, the Japanese driver didn’t deny it.

“It had already started from the first races. There wasn’t a specific team leader, and I think even now, with Liam joining, there’s no designated team leader. So I’ve just tried to stick to what I’ve been doing and focus on what I need to improve.”

He acknowledges working hard on his behavior and his ability to lead the team: “Not really. Obviously, it’s probably a bit more challenging, but at the same time, it’s a moment where I can align with the team or find common ground.”

“But at the same time, I still get angry, and I do get really frustrated, something I still want to improve. But yes, I mean, I’m still motivated. At the same time, [every] development isn’t as advanced as we’d like, but we’re still seeing significant steps with every new update.”

“Every time we’re able to fight closely for tenth place, it brings motivation and, in a way, resets each Grand Prix with the goal of always scoring points.”

Tsunoda doesn’t expect any miraculous progress in 2025, the final year of the current regulations, nor a major shake-up in the pecking order: “In 2025, I don’t think most teams will make a big step forward because we’ve been working with this car over the past few years or the last two years.”

“Most teams have had many upgrades, and I think we’re reaching the point where, even with improvements, teams will only make small gains. So I hope we can build a good car, develop it with solid upgrades, and start strong in 2025.”