Tsunoda "has to score many more points than he did last year"

Tsunoda “has to score many more points than he did last year”

February 12, 2023

in Racing

Reading Time: 2 mins read

AlphaTauri group principal Franz Tost says he expects driver Yuki Tsunoda to attain “many extra factors” this season than he did in 2022.

Tsunoda is coming into into his third 12 months in Formulation 1 with AlphaTauri. He was closely out-scored by his extra skilled group mate Pierre Gasly in his rookie season in 2021 however matched Gasly extra commonly in his second 12 months. Nonetheless, Tsunoda continued to make some main errors in 2022, together with crashing out of the Canadian Grand Prix exiting the pit lane after which hitting Gasly because the pair battled for factors on the British Grand Prix.

AlphaTauri struggled for efficiency in 2022 in comparison with the 12 months earlier than, falling from sixth to ninth within the constructors’ championship. Tost says AlphaTauri’s new AT04 will show extra formidable than its predecessor and expects Tsunoda to enhance his performances in his third season.

“Final 12 months, Yuki struggled with the automobile,” Tost mentioned. “This 12 months, as I count on we may have fairly a aggressive automobile, Yuki should at all times purpose to be in Q3 and end the races within the factors.

“He’s a really highly- expert driver and now has numerous expertise with two seasons in Formulation 1. Because of this, after all, he has to attain many extra factors than he did final 12 months.”

After AlphaTauri fell again into the midst of the midfield battle in 2022, Tost expects that the grid shall be extra aggressive all through the order in 2023.

“I believe that the entire area shall be a lot nearer collectively,” he mentioned. “In fact, the three huge groups nonetheless have a bonus from their infrastructure, from the personnel facet, however I’m fairly satisfied that in 2023 the automobiles shall be rather more evenly matched.

“As well as, whereas [Max] Verstappen gained the championship fairly early on within the season final 12 months, I don’t count on that one driver may have such an enormous benefit this 12 months and win so early. I believe it would change into a battle that goes on till the tip of the season. That’s what the followers, spectators, and all of us wish to see.”

Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free