Yuki Tsunoda claims AlphaTauri are now the ‘dark horse’ of F1 following recent upgrades

Yuki Tsunoda claims the team will do its best to leapfrog.

Yuki Tsunoda claims AlphaTauri are now the ‘dark horse’ of F1 following recent upgrades

AlphaTaur's Yuki Tsunoda (via IMAGO)

Yuki Tsunoda finished 9th place in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, scoring two valuable points for AlphaTauri. The week before that in Mexico City, Tsunoda missed out on points after an unfortunate mistake. Daniel Ricciardo compensated by finishing a superb 6th, catapulting the Faenza team to 8th in the Constructors’ Championship.

With AlphaTauri’s three consecutive points finishes, eyes are turning to the Italian team, and Yuki Tsunoda agrees. Tsunoda said that the major upgrade package for the team in Austin has helped them become a “dark horse” compared to the other squads, and is confident of more points in the last two races.

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It's a big surprise. I think we're right now a dark horse, especially compared to our other competitors. Now we are closer to P7 in the teams' championship. I think it’s possible, and we will do our best.
Yuki Tsunoda said, as reported by motorsport.com

Tsunoda said that the team is confident of more points, with only Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi remaining on the calendar. AlphaTauri is currently on the chase for Williams ahead of them, in seventh place. AlphaTauri is only seven points behind and has shown exceptional form, so the battle for 7th could be tight.

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AlphaTauri driver Liam Lawson reveals 2024 plans after strong performance as reserve

Liam Lawson put in a tremendous cameo for AlphaTauri from Zandvoort until Austin when Daniel Ricciardo returned. The New Zealand driver was summoned to replace an injured Ricciardo and did so in superb fashion as he managed to outperform Tsunoda on multiple occasions. Lawson scored two points in a 9th-place finish which puts him in the top 20 of the Drivers’ Championship despite only taking part in a handful of races.

Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson (via IMAGO)

This performance led many to believe that Lawson would claim one of the two available AlphaTauri seats for 2024, but the team re-signed Ricciardo and Tsunoda, leaving Lawson off the grid and as a reserve for another year. Lawson laid out his plans for 2024, saying a return to Formula 2 or Super Formula wouldn’t be on the cards, so he plans to concentrate entirely on his duties as a reserve driver.

I've raced in most championships and I've even been in F1, I can't really go and do F2 again, there'd be no point. I can't do Super Formula again. I could, but there's less benefit from doing it. So I think it's full focus on being reserve.
Liam Lawson said, as reported by Formula 1

Lawson has been promised a seat in either Red Bull or its sister team Alpha Tauri for 2025, as rumors floated that Daniel Ricciardo would be replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull. But with Perez seemingly making a comeback in form, and Ricciardo and Tsunoda not looking bad themselves, the driver market for 2025 could take a very interesting turn.

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