Becoming team leader made me think for myself more

Yuki Tsunoda says he has loved being the efficient staff chief at AlphaTauri as he has had three totally different staff mates to this point this yr.

The 23-year-old is in his third yr with the Faenza-based squad and can break a report when he continues at Purple Bull’s secondary Method 1 staff for a fourth successive season in 2024.

In his first two campaigns he was staff mate to grand prix winner Pierre Gasly. Following Gasly’s departure to Alpine, rookie Nyck de Vries took his place, however he lasted simply 10 races earlier than being dropped.

Daniel Ricciardo arrived instead of De Vries, however he was sidelined by damage in his third weekend with the staff. Liam Lawson has substituted for him since then.

Having been partnered with two rookies and one other driver who was not aware of the AT04, Tsunoda has needed to forge his personal path relating to getting one of the best out of his automotive.

“I like that problem this yr to this point as a result of to this point I’m probably not taking a look at information from my staff mates,” Tsunoda stated.

“Generally, clearly, I’m searching for it. However I’m primarily making an attempt to find what I can do with none information, only a comparability with different groups and the way the opposite drivers are driving. I feel in the long run that’s the type of issues I want as a driver sooner or later anyway, so for me it’s good coaching.

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“Till final yr I acquired a little bit of assist from different drivers, I had a great reference from information and I may examine the place I used to be dropping. However now I’ve to suppose for myself the place I’m dropping, what I can enhance. And I type of already attempt to suppose myself, attempt to really feel extra the place I’m missing, the place I’m dropping, even once I’m driving.”

Tsunoda, who may have the possibility to hitch AlphaTauri’s senior staff Purple Bull after the 2024 F1 season, says he has gained helpful data by way of having to work out for himself methods to enhance his automotive’s efficiency.

“It’s good studying for me,” stated Tsunoda. “I really feel much more accountable now which, I feel, to be a greater driver is for me a great alternative.

“To this point I’m fairly pleased with what I’m doing and in a position to present the efficiency each time constantly. So I simply should hold doing like this and in addition assist different drivers as a lot as doable.”

AlphaTauri lies final within the championship standings with six rounds remaining. Tsunoda has scored three of the staff’s 5 factors, the others having been picked up by Lawson.

It’s the staff’s least aggressive season in its historical past, and Tsunoda admitted AlphaTauri would “be most likely a extra full staff” had the skilled Gasly not moved on. Nonetheless Tsunoda stated he was already making an attempt to turn into much less reliant on his staff mate’s information and discovering his personal enhancements earlier than this yr.

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“New drivers have to find what they’re doing, how they’re doing, how they’re working,” stated Tsunoda. “I feel I realized so much from Pierre.

“Final yr within the second half of the season I used to be already beginning to be the motive force the way in which I’m doing now. Attempting to find extra for myself what I can do, not simply from Pierre. I need to acquire or make the distinction in comparison with Pierre, on high of it with myself.

“From the second half [of 2022] I used to be already being on my own and simply primarily specializing in chatting with the engineers somewhat than having reference and evaluating with Pierre.”

2023 Japanese Grand Prix

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