There have been some thoroughly impressive performances from drivers up and down the grid during the 2024 Formula 1 season.
A third of the way through the campaign sustained good performances are a sign that a driver has gone up a level rather than just enjoying a decent spell of form.
David Coulthard was speaking on Channel 4 after qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix about one driver who has been sensational throughout the season.
Intra-team battles are the best way to judge how well a driver is performing and there are some very one-sided contests this year.
Within the Red Bull group, Max Verstappen is unsurprisingly leading the way ahead of Sergio Perez once again who has had two weekends to forget.
However, in the sister Visa Cash App RB team, Yuki Tsunoda has dominated Daniel Ricciardo and David Coulthard believes the 74-race driver is finally reaching his full potential.
Tsunoda will once again start in the top ten in Monaco and has been so impressive this year that he’s even sitting above Lance Stroll in the Drivers’ Championship.
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David Coulthard thinks Yuki Tsunoda is ‘fulfilling his potential’
Yuki Tsunoda has entered his fourth season in Formula 1 knowing he had something to prove.
He was joined by the more experienced Ricciardo midway through 2023 and all eyes were on whether the Australian could do enough to convince Red Bull he should be in Sergio Perez’s seat.
However, the Japanese driver has been more impressive than the pair of them, although he’s still not in contention to drive for Red Bull next year.
Tsunoda’s contract expires at the end of the season and RB have already responded to whether they want to retain him next year.
The 24-year-old is being linked with other seats on the grid, with Audi adding him to their shortlist.
Coulthard now believes that Tsunoda is finally fulfilling his potential for RB and is now the clear leader in the team.
He’s put himself in a brilliant position to score more points in Monaco and extend his lead over Stroll in the standings.
Yuki Tsunoda one of the drivers of the season in Formula 1
Talking about the Japanese driver, Coulthard said: “It came off the back of a very strong weekend in Imola a week ago and yeah, and he really seems that he’s fulfilling his potential.
“At the beginning of his career, you were sort of going well is this a token effort having someone that will appease Honda?
“He’s now there leading that team and a great performance when it really counted.”
Webber: “And no mistakes make, the mistakes have plummeted, they’ve gone, he’s flawless.”
Tsunoda will argue with Coulthard that at 24, he’s still a long way off reaching his full potential.
However, he needs to make sure he’s in the right car next season to fulfil it and while RB have taken steps forward, he’s one of the hottest properties on the grid right now.
He’s not going to be picked up by a top team – including the one he has a direct link to – so biding his time for another year at RB makes sense.
His Honda connections could mean he’s got a chance of joining Aston Martin in 2026, although it’s hard to see the team parting ways with Stroll or Fernando Alonso at this stage.
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