Tsunoda joined the RB team in 2021, when the team was still known as Scuderia AlphaTauri. Although he showed glimpses of speed, his early performances were inconsistent and plagued by driving mistakes.
Despite this, both the Faenza squad and Red Bull have maintained their belief in the Japanese driver, who is now entering his fourth season with the team under its new name.
Throughout his time with RB, Tsunoda has had several different teammates. In 2021 and 2022, he partnered with Pierre Gasly. In the first half of the 2023 F1 season, Nyck de Vries joined him as a teammate, followed by Daniel Ricciardo. When Ricciardo suffered a hand injury in Zandvoort last year, Liam Lawson stepped in for five races, but was ultimately replaced by the Australian, despite performing well.
It can be argued that RB did not have a consistent benchmark among Tsunoda’s various teammates to accurately assess his performance and development.
However, Mekies, speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, believes that having Ricciardo as a teammate changes that. This statement is interesting considering Ricciardo’s underwhelming performances, particularly in 2024, since his return to the team.
Mekies stated, “It’s fantastic to have Daniel with Yuki. It provides a great reference point for us. We have the experience and speed of Daniel, as well as the raw speed and youth of Yuki. We are looking for Yuki to take the next step in his development.”
He further explained that top drivers make progress by gaining a deeper understanding of the car, the tires, and building strong relationships with their engineers. Mekies believes that Tsunoda is still growing in these areas and has the potential to continue surprising the F1 world.
Regarding Ricciardo, Mekies reflected on working with the eight-time grand prix winner. He noted that despite a rough patch in recent years, Ricciardo’s current mindset and energy are the best they have seen. He praised Ricciardo’s technical sensitivities and his commitment to the project, stating that having him on board is a game-changer for the team.
Mekies emphasized the importance of providing the right conditions for Ricciardo and managing his energy effectively. He acknowledged that Ricciardo is driving the process and actively involved in ensuring his placement in the car and his overall well-being.
In the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Tsunoda has outperformed Ricciardo in qualifying.