23-year-old driver has been ‘surprising everyone’ in the F1 world for three years

Follow us on Google Discover

Visa Cash App RB team principal Laurent Mekies believes that 23-year-old driver Yuki Tsunoda has been surprising everyone in the world of Formula 1 for the past three years.

Yuki Tsunoda had a frustrating opening race of the 2024 season after being asked to let teammate Daniel Ricciardo through despite being the quicker driver on Saturday.

However, speaking on the Beyond The Grid Podcast, Mekies suggested that Tsunoda still has plenty of room to improve.

Mekies believes Yuki Tsunoda has been surprising people in F1 for years

It’s easy to forget that Tsunoda is still only 23 years old given how long he’s been involved in Formula 1.

Tsunoda’s junior record was very impressive, winning Super FJ, JAF Japan Formula 4 and the F4 Japanese Championship as a teenager.

He only spent one year in Formula 3 with Jenzer Motorsport and until Taylor Barnard’s victory last season, he was the only driver to win a race at that level for the team.

The Japanese driver immediately jumped up to F2 and his 3^rd-place finish in 2020 was enough to earn him a seat in Formula 1.

Mekies has suggested that ever since his debut in 2021, Tsunoda has been surprising people in Formula 1.

He’s the only rookie from that season to still be on the grid with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin failing to make the grade at Haas.

Tsunoda now faces arguably his toughest challenge yet as he goes up against Daniel Ricciardo for a potential drive with Red Bull in 2025.

Tsunoda up against toughest F1 challenge yet in Ricciardo

Speaking about the feisty young driver, Mekies said: “You know as we say, Yuki [Tsunoda] has been surprising everyone in the F1 world, in year one, in year two, in year three.

“We think if he does another step after four years of steps you are starting to talk about a very serious level.

“And to mature those steps with a guy like Daniel, hopefully in his best form, we think he’ll be in his best form, and therefore what we are looking for from Yuki is that he does that one more step.”

Host Tom Clarkson added: “What does a step look like though, he’s not going to get quicker. Can they still get quicker?”

Mekies replied: “Of course. Drivers do get quicker, 100%, the good ones! I have no doubt about it.”

Mekies has high hopes for Tsunoda and will hope he can keep surprising the rest of the paddock.

Entering his fourth season, it’ll be interesting to see how much longer he spends at RB before they decide they want to bring through the next young star in their Young Driver Program.

Liam Lawson will be hoping he moves on soon as that could afford him his opportunity to earn a permanent race seat on the F1 grid.