Sam Bird Believes Yuki Tsunoda's AlphaTauri Seat is on Borrowed Time

Formula E race winner Sam Bird suggests it's only a matter of time before Yuki Tsunoda is replaced at AlphaTauri, following a challenging Singapore Grand Prix where he was significantly outpaced by his teammate. Bird's comments highlight the intense pressure on Tsunoda to perform consistently within the Red Bull ecosystem, especially with promising junior drivers waiting in the wings.

Why it matters:

• Yuki Tsunoda's future in Formula 1 is a recurring topic, given his fluctuating performance and the Red Bull junior program's reputation for high expectations and swift changes.
• A potential driver change at AlphaTauri could open a crucial pathway for an upcoming Red Bull junior, with drivers like Isack Hadjar being mentioned as possible contenders.
• The stability of AlphaTauri's driver lineup directly impacts its development and competitiveness, especially as it looks to solidify its position in the midfield.

The details:

• Speaking on BBC's Chequered Flag podcast, Sam Bird stated, "It's only a matter of time now before he vacates that seat; it's just a matter of when, not if."
• Bird pointed to Tsunoda's performance in Singapore, where he was not only lapped by the frontrunners but also by his teammate, Max Verstappen, who was battling Lando Norris for second.
• In qualifying, Tsunoda failed to reach Q3 and was nearly a full second behind Verstappen, indicating a significant performance gap.
• In the race, Tsunoda finished twelfth, once again outside the points, despite an earlier positive run of form.
• Red Bull's Driver Philosophy: Bird speculated that Red Bull might give a junior like Isack Hadjar an early opportunity, saying, "Look, you've got six races now with the big team. There's no pressure. Get settled in, learn about your engineer... how to cope with the Verstappen car that we will build you in the future because we're not going to build you a car, we're going to build Max Verstappen a car, and see if you can hang onto it."

The big picture:

• Red Bull's driver development program is renowned for its ruthless efficiency, often promoting or dropping drivers based on performance and potential for the senior team.
• Tsunoda has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency, which is a critical factor for Red Bull when evaluating long-term prospects.
• The potential promotion of a junior driver like Hadjar would align with Red Bull's strategy of nurturing talent through AlphaTauri before considering them for the main team.

What's next:

• While Tsunoda remains optimistic despite recent setbacks, the pressure will undoubtedly intensify in the remaining races of the season.
• The performance of Red Bull's junior drivers in their respective series will be closely monitored, as strong results could accelerate their path to F1.
• A decision on Tsunoda's future is likely to come in the off-season, though Bird's comments suggest it could happen sooner if AlphaTauri decides to give a new talent a head start.
• If a change occurs, the focus will shift to how a new driver adapts to the AlphaTauri car and the demands of Formula 1.