F1 | Marko’s plan: Tsunoda to relocate in Italy to gain back confidence
Red Bull is planning to move AlphaTauri’s rookie Tsunoda closer to the factory under Tost’s responsibility
After some though races, AlphaTauri’s rookie Yuki Tsunoda needs to regain some confidence. To do that, Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko wants to move the young Japanese to Italy, in order to be closer to AlphaTauri’s factory.
The 21-year-old driver started his first season in Formula 1 with a great race, building his way up to ninth in his maiden race and he showed up to Marko that he was right in promoting him so strongly. It was Helmut’s word to bring Tsunoda right to Formula 1, after making him rapidly jump forward in minor categories from Formula 4 up to F1 in just four years.
The man never regretted it and he described the first race as “it was fantastic” until now. After that great beginning, the rookie started to face the first problems and stopped scoring points since then and Marko wants to go to the roots of the problem. The Japanese’s worst moment was in Imola, during the Made-In-Italy Grand Prix, where his over-confidence caused him to crash during the Qualifying and then he spun out during the race.
“Trying to overtake Hamilton on the wet track at Imola is a daring manoeuvre, and of course it went wrong - that was the spin that knocked him out of the points,”- Marko tells Formel1.de, while recalling the episode .
I wanted to apologize for my comments today. I didn’t mean to criticize the team who have done a great job all weekend. I was just frustrated with my performance. Full send tomorrow🚀
— 角田裕毅/Yuki Tsunoda (@yukitsunoda07) May 8, 2021
These lack of attention have caused Tsunoda to move from England to Italy, under the careful eye of AlphaTauri team manager Franz Tost, with the hope it could be enough to help the young driver to get some confidence back and learn some new experience that will control his impulses.
“We've now decided he's moving to Italy, where he's under the personal watchful eye of Franz Tost.- Marko explains - The young man now has to concentrate and will learn that Formula 1 is the toughest sport in motor racing. Accordingly, the work and approach must also be as professional.”
Tost will have the responsibility to arrange Tsunoda’s daily routine, from karting to training so he will focus on, to use Red Bull advisor’s words “lots of fitness, go-karting, technical work in the factory, reading out data and the like.”
However, AlphaTauri rookie is aware he needs to be more in control of his emotions and he has many areas to improve and he immediately apologized to his team by radio when he outburst during Imola qualifying. Marko admitted that the reason behind Tsunoda crash could be a lack of self-esteem that has to be boosted back.
“Yes, the development has certainly not been positive. But with the mistakes that have happened, it's clear that self-confidence has also suffered. – he states – That's why the move from England to Italy. The potential is still there. But we now have to put it on the right track.”
