Tsunoda “must score much more than last year”

AlphaTauri crew principal Franz Tost stated he expects driver Yuki Tsunoda to attain considerably extra factors this season than he did in 2022.

Tsunoda is coming into its third 12 months in Formulation 1 with AlphaTauri. In his rookie season in 2021, he was closely outpaced by his extra skilled teammate Pierre Gasly, however in his second 12 months, he was paired extra repeatedly with Gasly. However Tsunoda continued to make some large errors, together with crashing out of the pit lane from the Canadian Grand Prix in 2022 after which hitting Gasly because the pair battled for factors on the British Grand Prix.

AlphaTauri struggled for efficiency in 2022 in comparison with the earlier 12 months, slipping from sixth to ninth within the builders’ championship. Tost says AlphaTauri’s new AT04 can be more difficult than its predecessor, and he expects Tsunoda to enhance performances in its third season.

“Final 12 months Yuki struggled with the automotive,” Tost stated. “As I hope we may have a really aggressive automotive this 12 months, Yuki ought to at all times intention to be in Q3 and end the races on factors.”

“He’s a really proficient driver and has numerous expertise in Formulation 1 proper now in two seasons. So after all he wants to attain much more factors than final 12 months.”

After AlphaTauri fell into the center of a midfield battle in 2022, Tost expects the grid to be extra aggressive in 2023.

“I feel the entire discipline could be a lot nearer collectively,” he stated. “In fact, the large three groups nonetheless have a bonus by way of infrastructure and personnel, however I am fairly positive in 2023 the vehicles can be paired far more evenly.”

“Additionally, whereas [Max] Verstappen received the title fairly early within the season final 12 months, this 12 months I do not count on a driver to have such an enormous benefit and win so quickly. I feel it should flip right into a battle that may final till the tip of the season. That is what the followers, the viewers, and all of us need to see.”

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