Christijan Albers tells £15k-a-week driver he’s still ‘very much underrated’ after Saudi GP

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Former Formula 1 driver Christijan Albers has suggested that he thinks Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda is still very underrated.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for the newly-named RB team as they have failed to score a point during the first two Grand Prix of the year.

Speaking on his Telegraaf Podcast, Albers was very complimentary about the 23-year-old driver.

Christijan Albers says Yuki Tsunoda is still underrated

While every driver on the grid always has plenty to race for every year, this season is particularly pertinent for the RB pairing.

In the dominant Red Bull team, Sergio Perez has entered the final year of his current deal.

The team have a big decision to make on whether to retain the Mexican or promote a driver from within.

So far, Perez is doing a fantastic job, but Yuki Tsunoda has admitted it would be his dream to earn that promotion to the fastest team on the grid.

Daniel Ricciardo has the same ambitions too, but he’s had a very tricky start to the year.

Albers believes that Tsunoda is still underrated among his peers in Formula 1 and has an advantage over his teammate right now.

If he can maintain that throughout the year, then not only will he put himself in pole position for a promotion, but he will avoid the threat of Liam Lawson replacing him as he seeks a seat on the F1 grid.

Tsunoda still trying to reach his full potential

Talking about the £15,000-a-week driver, Albers said: “Tsunoda just drove behind Magnussen again, and he really went crazy!

“But Magnussen is of course also a defensive driver, he could almost join a football team as a defender.

“Tsunoda really didn’t have a good time while driving behind Magnussen, but really hats off to him.

“He already did better this weekend than Daniel Ricciardo, who was otherwise completely out of it.

“I see that Tsunoda is actually still very much underrated up to this point, and that is unjustified.”

Albers may consider Tsunoda to be underrated, but he needs to deliver some more impressive results to grab the attention of the paddock.

He’s never finished on the podium which is to be expected given RB’s relative strength but too often he makes a crucial mistake when he’s in a strong position.

Karun Chandhok has suggested Red Bull won’t want to promote Tsunoda if they don’t have to for 2025, and so it’s up to him to change their mind.

The ‘little terrier’ as Anthony Davidson has described him is entering a crucial season for his Formula 1 career.