Yuki Tsunoda Stakes His Claim for Red Bull Seat Amidst Intense Speculation and Perez Scrutiny

Yuki Tsunoda makes his argument for a Red Bull seat amidst speculation of significant changes

"Look at the Q3 appearances, qualifying outcomes, and race finishes, and the evidence will be obvious"

Yuki Tsunoda believes his performance justifies a move to Red Bull if they decide to replace Sergio Perez.

This weekend marks the final F1 Belgian Grand Prix before the summer hiatus, during which Red Bull will evaluate Perez's performance.

Although Perez signed a new contract earlier this year, his position for the latter part of this season is facing significant questioning.

At this juncture, I'm uncertain if they are thinking about me, though it's possible they are," commented RB driver Tsunoda at Spa, with Crash.net present in the paddock.

"I'm not sure. I suppose it's the same for all of us. I don't believe any drivers, apart from Max, receive any details about that."

"They're likely discussing things behind the scenes, and I hope I'm part of those discussions. I believe I've done everything I needed to do."

“I’m satisfied with my achievements so far. What more is there for me to do? You all discuss the speculations and the Red Bull position, but the difference in points between me and other drivers is quite evident.”

"I'm satisfied with my efforts because they're within my control. I can't influence other factors, so I concentrate on what I can manage, which is my performance, and I'll see how it plays out in this race."

However, Tsunoda acknowledges that he has not had any conversations with Helmut Marko or Christian Horner.

“No, not at all,” he replied.

"I'm unsure about other drivers. It appears they also don't engage in that type of discussion."

"I am not sure about the drivers who are not competing at the moment."

"[My wish is] for them to make a decision quickly. Of course, I definitely want to be chosen, but it's not great to have rumors and extra pressure when I've never had any discussions or knowledge about it. I just don't know. But that's the way it is. I'm just hoping."

Yuki Tsunoda currently holds the 12th position in the Formula 1 rankings before the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix. He is one spot ahead of his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who has faced criticism for his performance at various points this season.

Liam Lawson, who filled in admirably at AlphaTauri last year as part of the Red Bull junior program, is also an option if Perez is replaced.

Even though Tsunoda has been performing well, Ricciardo and Lawson are more frequently mentioned as potential replacements for Perez.

“Clearly, as a driver, there are a few races where I could have performed better,” Tsunoda commented.

"Take Montreal, for instance. I was in a position to score points but ended up losing them despite having them within reach. However, if you look at the number of times I've made it to Q3, along with my qualifying and race results, the situation will become evident."

"In my view, it’s definitely apparent. Beyond that, I’m not sure."

“There appear to be additional elements at play, given that other drivers are being taken into account too."

"It's founded on hearsay, however…"

"If you look at the results, it's obvious, as I mentioned before. It's evident that I'm delivering strong performances, even when compared to other drivers in the upper midfield."

Tsunoda has a contract to stay with RB through 2025, a privilege that Ricciardo hasn't secured yet.

However, Tsunoda acknowledged, "It seems Helmut mentioned that they have the freedom to do whatever they wish. Thus, the contract holds little significance."

"Honestly, I didn't go through it carefully. Whatever it mentions, I suppose it's something like… Yeah, for now, I think it's this team."

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