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Yuki Tsunoda is optimistic and looking forward to driving at the Shanghai circuit for the first time at the 2024 Chinese GP. Speaking to media including Sportskeeda, the RB driver was positive about the team’s prospects at the first sprint weekend on the calendar.
Unlike Daniel Ricciardo who has prior experience and success in China, Yuki Tsunoda will be driving at the Shanghai International circuit for the first time along with many other drivers on the grid. Given that a handful of the current grid is well-versed with the layout and its challenges, the Japanese driver believes that the spring format on the weekend could make it a bit difficult. Outlining his expectations, the 22-year-old was positive of his car’s prospects and is expecting it to perform better than the last race weekend.
Asked by Sportskeeda, if he was looking forward to his first F1 outing in China, Yuki Tsunoda said:
“Yeah very excited. Sprint qualifying format won't be easy especially first time in this track for me. But yeah, currently the team is performing well, our car is good, so still feeling optimistic.”
Asked if the sprint format could create more chaos during the weekend, he replied:
“Yes always excited to drive a new track you know and sprint qualifying is very challenging. But yeah I think we are in a good shape, we are in a good rhythm, so yeah still feeling optimistic. I think the car should perform well more than Suzuka out here, I hope. So I think everything is in the right direction.”
Yuki Tsunoda outlines Daniel Ricciardo’s influence on his Chinese GP preparations
Yuki Tsunoda reckoned that Daniel Ricciardo’s input from his experience at the Shanghai circuit helped the team shape their tire strategy. Having won in China in 2018 and finished in the top 10 in 2019, the Australian had a better idea of the tire wear at this track. Driving for the first time at the Asian circuit, the Japanese driver is relying on his engineer and teammate’s experience to put a collective strategy together.
Ricciardo had suggested that a part of the reason Yuki Tsunoda was performing well this year was because he had taken a lot of inferences from his setups which helped him perform well in 2023. Although the 22-year-old denied taking any inspiration from the Perth-born driver in terms of setup, he did highlight other areas where he was inspired by Ricciardo.
Asked about how he has strategized his tire allocation given his lack of experience in China, Yuki Tsunoda said:
“I just keep completely relying on my engineers because you know like I said its first time on track. I don’t know how tires behave here, no idea about this. So I think engineers have more bigger picture, probably also Daniel as well, he won here. So I think his experience will help for sure. So we just put it all together as a team and we find the best.”
Asked if Ricciardo’s assessment of his improved performance was fair, he replied:
“In terms of setup, I didn’t get influenced from any of his setup, to be honest. Because how he drove and how he fared last year was different. It didn’t work to my driving. To be honest, I learnt more like different things, for example how he handles the situation with stressful moments or those kind of mentality parts. But those setups didn’t get any inference.”
Yuki Tsunoda has been praised for his mental calmness in the 2024 season unlike his outbursts on the radio and press in the past. Having outqualified his teammate in the last four qualifying sessions and outperforming him in the last three races, the RB driver is confident going into the Chinese GP weekend. Currently, the Honda-backed driver has scored seven points and is placed 11th in the drivers standings and RB are sixth in the team standings.
