Yuki Tsunoda, a missed chance in Abu Dhabi tests? Montoya: “He was too confident in the car”. A missed opportunity. This is how Yuki Tsunoda’s post-season tests on the Red Bull can be summarized.

Yuki Tsunoda, aiming for Red Bull
A missed opportunity. This is how Yuki Tsunoda’s post-season tests on the Red Bull can be summarized. While tests are always secondary compared to the World Championship performance, if Tuesday’s laps in Abu Dhabi were considered for a potential promotion to Red Bull in place of Sergio Perez, the Japanese driver’s chances would have significantly diminished. Tsunoda finished behind Isack Hadjar (also in a Red Bull), despite setting his time on C6 tires, while the Frenchman was on C5.

Overall, Yuki Tsunoda’s Tuesday performance failed to impress. Despite Honda pushing for the promotion of their home driver in the final year of their partnership with Red Bull, skepticism remains in Milton Keynes. This skepticism is more related to the ties with the Japanese engine supplier than to Tsunoda’s on-track performance (as he has undoubtedly shown more than Liam Lawson), but the post-season tests did little to dispel doubts.

Juan Pablo Montoya’s remarks
For Juan Pablo Montoya, Tsunoda’s underwhelming performance can be attributed to the Japanese driver’s excessive confidence in the car: “You feel very comfortable until Max is eight-tenths faster than you. The moment Max goes eight-tenths faster, you need to push, and then there comes a point where you’re no longer as comfortable in the car. When you’re comfortable in the car, the car isn’t going fast, I guarantee it,” said the former Williams and McLaren driver on the YouTube channel *W Radio Colombia*.

According to the Colombian, Tsunoda squandered a significant opportunity because for Red Bull: “I think if they go with Lawson, it will be a decision made after the tests. I think they wanted to see how well Yuki could perform with the car.”