Anthony Davidson Questions Red Bull’s Reluctance: Why is ‘Polished’ Yuki Tsunoda Consistently Overlooked?

Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson has expressed his confusion over Red Bull's repeated decision to 'overlook' Yuki Tsunoda, whom he describes as 'polished.'

Former Formula 1 racer Anthony Davidson is puzzled as to why Red Bull consistently ignores Yuki Tsunoda.

Tsunoda is expected to continue with VCARB for the 2025 F1 season following an impressive performance with the team this year.

The driver from Japan has consistently outperformed Daniel Ricciardo, leading to Ricciardo's replacement by Liam Lawson for the upcoming race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Even though Tsunoda ranks as Red Bull's top driver after Max Verstappen in 2024, he has not been considered as a candidate to take over Sergio Perez's position.

Before the summer break, Ricciardo was seen as the likely candidate to take over from Perez. However, if Lawson performs exceptionally well during his six-race opportunity, he might be considered for the position instead of Tsunoda.

During the most recent episode of the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Davidson expressed his view that Tsunoda has become a "complete package" and wondered why he hasn't been offered an opportunity to race with Verstappen.

"They're hoping to find that special something," Davidson remarked. "At one point, Daniel might have been the one to provide it. It's possible that he would have consistently outperformed Yuki, but I believe Yuki has improved significantly since he joined Formula 1."

"It's common to observe drivers pushing the limits of their vehicles, leading to crashes or spins. Initially, they struggle to find a balance, and once they do, their pace drops as they try to regain their composure. Yuki has experienced this process and is no longer the driver that some might remember from the past."

"He's now a well-rounded and complete competitor. Unfortunately, Yuki continues to face the same criticisms. It's not so simple for anyone to do that with Tsunoda anymore. What are his thoughts on the situation? He's been passed over time and again."

"When drivers like Lawson or an experienced Ricciardo return, and Nyck de Vries competes against them, he consistently outperforms them each time. This pattern can't merely be a matter of chance."

Davidson believes that Tsunoda possesses the mental toughness needed to compete with Verstappen if he gets the chance.

"Yuki is being neglected," he remarked. "Why isn't he being considered? Why aren't we discussing Yuki's opportunity to take Perez's place?"

"Could he perform more effectively? He’s an energetic driver. I doubt he would be mentally overpowered by Max. He has a strong and determined personality. I believe this was the challenge Ricciardo faced, though it wasn’t widely acknowledged."

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