Yuki Tsunoda has thrown down the challenge to brand-new colleague Daniel Ricciardo, adamant that he too wants to advance to Red Bull
At this weekend’s F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, Ricciardo will make his debut with Tsunoda for AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team, in place of the fired Nyck de Vries.
The veteran Australian’s eventual goal is to earn a Red Bull seat – but his newest teammate also shares that ambition.
“It’ll be clear soon, but either driver will be slower and the slower guy won’t make it to Red Bull,” Tsunoda said in Budapest.
“That’s easy, the faster guy has more chance to go to Red Bull, it’s how it works in Formula1, that’s it.”
AlphaTauri’s lone two points this terrible season have been scored by Tsunoda. De Vries failed to score any points in his 10 races, and the team is currently last in the constructors’ standings.
With Ricciardo’s high-profile entry, Tsunoda may now face increased pressure.
It’s always a difficulty, the Japanese driver admitted. In the end, it doesn’t really matter whether Daniel or Nyck is involved.
“Anyway, I have to continue doing what I was doing to Nyck; the most crucial thing is that you defeat your teammate.
“Daniel is not an easy driver to beat, but at the same time I’ll do what I did in the last couple of races and it’s clear the faster guy will stay or go up, that’s it.”
