Helmut Marko has admitted that a Formula 1 driver still to secure a podium finish is now a ‘top driver’ but his emergence came later than the Red Bull advisor expected.
The Austrian has a keen eye for talent as the head honcho of the Red Bull driver programme which has produced multiple stars. Max Verstappen has won the past three drivers’ titles for Red Bull after rising through their ranks. Sebastian Vettel even won four titles with the team.
Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly are also each Grand Prix-winning products of the Red Bull production line. Rising talents such as Formula 3 wonderkid Arvid Lindblad and Formula 2 championship contender Isack Hadjar are two gems now trying to impress Marko.
Helmut Marko thinks Yuki Tsunoda is finally a ‘top driver’ in Formula 1
But the way that Yuki Tsunoda has performed for Visa Cash App RB during the 2024 season has convinced Marko. He now believes the 24-year-old is a ‘top driver’ who may go on to do great things in Formula 1. But it is vital that Tsunoda upholds the consistency he is showing.
Tsunoda is already enjoying the second-most prolific year of his F1 career in his fourth term on the grid. The Japanese talent has scored 19 points through the first nine rounds of 2024, having previously scored 32 over 22 races in 2021, 12 in 22 in 2022 and 17 in 22 last season.
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Marko admits that he expected to see Tsunoda reach the levels the RB driver has shown in 2024 earlier. But, having finally overcome his heated emotions, the product of the Red Bull and Honda driver academies is showing what he can offer to also merit a contract for 2025.
“He has to continue to perform like he does now – let’s see what the future brings then,” Marko told Autosport. “His development is really good, although it came a little bit later than we expected. But he is now a top driver, I would say.
“This is the first season in which Yuki is consistently fast and he is controlling his emotions, which was his biggest problem before. To be fair to him, he always had flashes of speed. But this year, besides the China race, he is consistently fast. Of course, it is changing his profile.”
Yuki Tsunoda is on for his career-best season with Visa Cash App RB
Visa Cash App RB took up their option to keep Tsunoda for 2025 ahead of the Canadian GP. The Japanese gem has only ever driven for the Faenza outfit since making his debut in F1 at the 2021 Bahrain GP. Red Bull put him in their junior team after two years in their academy.
Tsunoda signed with the Red Bull academy that Marko oversees in 2019, having already had backing from Honda since 2016. Now, the Sagamihara native is on course for his best year in F1 yet. Tsunoda sits 10th in the drivers’ standings after sealing five top-10 Grand Prix results.
His best finish so far this year remains P7, having achieved the position in the Australian GP and the Miami GP. Tsunoda will hope his form with RB so far this year now leads to a debut podium. His best Formula 1 career result remains P4 in the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP as a rookie.
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