F1 | Yuki Tsunoda focused on points at Monza with Red Bull future on the line
After scoring points at the Dutch Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda arrives in Monza full of motivation. The Japanese driver is eager to build on his recent progress, especially with the added pressure of proving he deserves a future alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026.
Tsunoda’s words ahead of the Italian GP
Speaking in the traditional Thursday press conference that kicks off the race weekend, Tsunoda showed confidence in his ability to deliver strong performances when it matters most.
Reflecting on his performance in Zandvoort, he explained: “I think I’ve been making progress since the very first day I stepped into this car. The results in the early races didn’t necessarily show it, but at least my feeling was that I was moving in the right direction step by step. Reaching the halfway point of the season hasn’t been easy. A lot has also changed inside the Red Bull family, so I’ve given my best at every race. I knew that especially in the last few rounds things were coming closer together. It was just about putting everything together, because the entire field is so tight. Every millisecond in Q1, Q2 and Q3 makes a huge difference. At Zandvoort I finally managed to do that. It was one of the best weekends for me in terms of progress and consistency throughout. It wasn’t easy with the safety cars and everything else, but I still scored points and I’m really satisfied.”
Monza has not been kind in the past
When asked about the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, Tsunoda admitted that Monza has not always treated him well in the past, but he remains optimistic: “I reset every year. Even if, as you said, three times out of four I had DNFs with lots of problems, I hope that won’t happen this year. I still like this track a lot. It’s very challenging in terms of confidence. When you trust yourself, you know you can deliver a fast lap. And even in the race it’s quite a manageable track compared to others. So yes, I’m really looking forward to racing here.”
Pushing for his Formula 1 future
The second Red Bull seat has always been one of the most difficult positions in Formula 1, and Tsunoda is currently facing that same pressure. With no contract secured for next season, the Japanese driver was asked if he feels he needs to convince the current team principal.
“That’s what I try to do at every race,” Tsunoda responded. “You always need to deliver results as much as possible. I try to exceed expectations and keep doing what I’ve been doing. I don’t think I need to change too much. Since Laurent arrived, my results haven’t actually been bad. Of course, it’s not up to me to decide if it’s enough or not. But I keep pushing.”
With his determination and recent form, Tsunoda heads into Monza with one clear target: to score valuable points and continue proving he deserves a place on the Formula 1 grid, potentially even alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026.
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