Pierre Gasly has disclosed what he discussed about Red Bull with Yuki Tsunoda following the Japanese driver's surprise promotion ahead of his home grand prix. The 24-year-old heads into the weekend at Suzuka looking to stamp his mark on the seat alongside Max Verstappen after Liam Lawson's ill-fated and short-lived tenure at the Milton Keynes team.
Tsunoda's former AlphaTauri team-mate Pierre Gasly has been in the drive often coined "the most difficult in F1" himself, lasting just 12 rounds in 2019 before being replaced by Alex Albon. After news broke that Lawson was being sent back to Racing Bulls, to Tsunoda's gain, the Frenchman spoke to the Japanese driver to share his experience racing for the six-time F1 constructors' champions - and impart some words of advice.
"Yeah, we spoke on the phone," Gasly told media including RacingNews365. "Obviously, the way that I was also given this opportunity and just in terms of what didn’t quite work out and things that could have been different. I think he’s got the experience, he’s got the speed. I’ve always backed him up. I’ve raced against him and with him for two years. I’ve seen his raw speed. I’ve seen what he was capable of doing already back at the time. We can look back in 2021, all these years, I’ve always said he was an extremely fast driver."
Gasly elaborated on Tsunoda's potential, stating, "So he’s got the speed. I think he’s got a strong character. Does it mean it’s going to be successful in Red Bull Racing? No. Can he be successful in Red Bull Racing? Yes. But it’s slightly more complicated than that. I just wish him the best. I’ve shared my thoughts and my experience from my time there. Time will tell, but I think he’s definitely a very strong driver. And in Formula 1 these days, you’ve got many strong drivers on the grid, so it’s not all down to your speed. There’s slightly more to it, but hopefully he can make the best out of this opportunity."
Gasly's insights come as Tsunoda prepares for what could be a defining moment in his career. The young driver was narrowly pipped by Lawson in the fight for the seat when Sergio Perez was dismissed at the end of last season. Despite having the better of the New Zealander in the six rounds they shared together after Daniel Ricciardo was jettisoned from the RB seat for the 23-year-old, Tsunoda has long been viewed as too volatile and immature to make the step up to Red Bull. It is something the team already feels is different this term. It is also an assessment Gasly agrees with.
"I think he always had the raw speed," the one-time grand prix winner said. "It was a little bit too hectic behind the wheel at times, on the radio. I think in that sense he’s matured enough in minimising the mistakes. It’s all a fine line between pushing right at the limit or over pushing slightly too much, which can be quite costly in Formula 1. And I think he's tuned that line. Looking at the past few seasons, I think he’s been putting in very strong performances. Speed-wise, he always had it. But in just minimising those mistakes, which could have been quite costly at the time - yeah."
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's future with Red Bull Racing is also a hot topic as many believe he will leave if he is not provided a good enough car. Multiple teams have shown interest in the four-time world champion. Now, Dr. Helmut Marko reveals a detail regarding Verstappen's exit clause.
Verstappen is currently contracted to be an F1 driver with Red Bull Racing until 2028. However, his contract does have an exit clause built into it. Marko revealed to RTL/ntv that they "need to make the RB21 more competitive." But he did add that it would not be happening right now. "As things stand, the exit clause will not be activated," Marko continued. "He will simply look for opportunities where he can get that. At this moment, I hope that is still far away. We want that fifth title. The whole team is focused on that."
Verstappen has already joined the list of drivers with four consecutive world titles. However, a fifth does not seem likely at this time due to the dominance of McLaren and the lack of pace from the RB21. Verstappen is also set to welcome his first child with partner Kelly Piquet anytime now. While he has said he does not expect that to affect his racing, anything can happen.
As the weekend unfolds in Suzuka, all eyes will be on both Tsunoda and Verstappen. Can Tsunoda make the most of his opportunity alongside the reigning champion? Will Verstappen's future with Red Bull remain secure, or will he seek greener pastures? The drama of Formula 1 continues, and the stakes have never been higher.
