Yuki Tsunoda wants to profit from Daniel Ricciardo’s mid-season AlphaTauri move
Daniel Ricciardo raced with Alpha Tauri a decade ago when the team were still Toro Rosso
Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo at a press conference (Credits: Planet F1)
The 2023 F1 silly season has seen the surprising driver change, with Nyck de Vries being ousted from AlphaTauri after just ten races. Stepping into his place is the former Red Bull driver, Daniel Ricciardo, who has come full circle in his F1 career. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda is excited about the new partnership and looks forward to working with Ricciardo, even though they’ve only met briefly during a fun filming day in Miami.
Nyck de Vries was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri. Ricciardo’s journey has been intriguing, transitioning from McLaren to Red Bull and returning to the team where he started his Formula 1 career. The decision to sign Ricciardo on loan was driven by his expertise and potential to enhance the team’s car development, coupled with de Vries’ underperformance in his ten races with AlphaTauri.
“I’m looking forward to working with Daniel,” Yuki Tsunoda told the media, the young AlphaTauri driver. While not knowing Ricciardo well, their prior encounter during a fun-filled filming day in Miami left a positive impression. For Ricciardo, this new chapter marks a return to his roots, and Yuki is thrilled to be paired with such an experienced driver.
Tsunoda believes having a skilled and seasoned driver like Daniel Ricciardo as a teammate will significantly benefit him. “I think I’ll benefit from having a very good, experienced driver as a teammate,” states Tusnoda. The Japanese driver hopes to learn valuable lessons from Ricciardo and expects him to be vital in moving the team’s car development forward.
Discover: AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost admits Nyck de Vries was not ready to race in F1
Hungaroring to be a litmus test for the new Alpha Tauri pairing
With the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, Tsunoda is eager to showcase his potential and the team’s progress. AlphaTauri has been working hard on new upgrades for the AT04, aiming to capitalize on the circuit’s characteristics. This race will be a critical test for both Tsunoda and Ricciardo as they work together to improve the team’s performance.
The 23-year-old is optimistic about the partnership with Ricciardo, foreseeing a fruitful learning experience. “I’m sure I can learn lots of things from him, and I also expect he will be able to bring something to the team and move the car development forward.” Tsunoda is ready to embrace the challenges and grow alongside the seasoned racer.
While Yuki had an enjoyable time with his former teammate Nyck de Vries and acknowledges the Dutch driver’s contribution to the team, he looks forward to this new chapter with Daniel Ricciardo. The combination of the Honda Academy graduates youthful exuberance and Ricciardo’s experience is set to bring a fresh dynamic to AlphaTauri, as they strive to achieve better results and development in the second half of the season.
In case you missed it:
- Lewis Hamilton is open to joining forces with Fernando Alonso and making an All-Star F1 lineup
- Nico Rosberg rubs salt on Sergio Perez’s wounds as he blames Checo for Red Bull’s possible failure to set an F1 record
Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)