Yuki Tsunoda says Liam Lawson’s arrival at RB instead of Daniel Ricciardo will add “a bit extra spice” to the intra-team battle, as each look to impress Crimson Bull for a future Components 1 drive.
Lawson was announced as Ricciardo’s replacement following the Singapore Grand Prix for the remainder of the season, though had been linked over the summer season to Sergio Perez‘s Crimson Bull seat earlier than the first staff publicly backed the Mexican driver.
The ideas that Lawson would leapfrog Tsunoda within the Crimson Bull pecking order got here when the Kiwi was given time within the 2024 RB20, because the staff thought of life after Perez earlier this yr.
Tsunoda had previously suggested that it would be “weird” if Lawson got the nod at Crimson Bull forward of him, and now reckons that his return to RB – having raced as Ricciardo’s substitute at AlphaTauri final yr – will elevate the stakes between them.
The Japanese driver says that his precedence is to beat Lawson, however crucially make sure the staff secures sixth within the championship.
“I am certain it should enhance the sort of mentality of attempting to not get crushed, however I assume that is pure,” Tsunoda mentioned.
“Perhaps barely a bit extra spice on high of it than typical, however I feel it was just like final yr as effectively. I do know that these issues are simply floating round anyway.
Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Money App RB F1 Group
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
“However at the least on my facet, I simply focus what I’ve to do and clearly Liam will do job as effectively.
“I am going to make sure that I will be forward of him, and hopefully we will obtain P6 within the staff championship. That is the principle objectives.”
Tsunoda added that though Lawson will intensify the team-mate battle at RB, he already felt that he was in a shootout with Ricciardo to impress given the tentative way forward for Perez at Crimson Bull.
He reiterated that one of the best ways to place himself within the store window was to finish the job of securing sixth within the constructors’ standings, and that alternatives would naturally current themselves afterwards.
“I assumed it is sort of like this case already with Daniel,” Tsunoda added. “These type of issues, it is all the time floating round anyway. To be trustworthy, I acquired used to it and there is no level to speak about it.
“I simply must maintain proving myself because of this and the way I work all through the race weekends; maintain specializing in what I’ve to do and people alternatives, it is as much as them and we’ll see the way it goes.
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Group VCARB 01
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
“You need to be forward on a regular basis and that will likely be what relies on the following yr’s contract and all the pieces.
“Nevertheless it’s all the time for me, it is a part of the entire season and we constructed already till this level, together with Daniel, that P6 proper now within the groups’ championship.
“If we weren’t capable of obtain these issues, I’d get very annoyed on the finish of the season.”