AlphaTauri spell out future for "problem child" Tsunoda

Ewan Gale
Friday 15 July 2022 20:14

AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has warned "problem child" Yuki Tsunoda he will be out of F1 if he fails to keep his performance levels high over the second half of the season.

The Japanese driver has raised his game this year after a troublesome rookie campaign that Tsunoda conceded left him surprised when he was given a second year with the team.

But whilst his performances have been positive, his anger on team radio has led to Red Bull hiring a psychologist to work with him, whilst his crash with team-mate Pierre Gasly at Silverstone earlier this month left Tost less than impressed.

Red Bull motorsports advisor Dr Helmut Marko described Tsunoda as a "problem child" and Tost said: "I like problem children because these are the real good children who can make something out of it.

"I don't like the holy children.

"He is still in his development process. He is fast and he will do [things] his way. It takes a little bit of time."

Tsunoda future in own hands

Gasly has already committed himself to AlphaTauri for 2023 with Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen tied down with Red Bull for the next two years at least.

The junior programme has a plethora of talent in F2 and F3 but Tost has insisted Tsunoda's future is in his own hands.

"If he continues like he is during the season, apart from crashing, he has a good chance to stay with us," he explained.

"It depends on him. If he shows a good performance he will stay, if he doesn't show a good performance, he is out. Totally easy."