“The head is not only there to put on the helmet, but also to think”– Helmut Marko shows his displeasure with Yuki Tsunoda’s performances

“The head is not only there to put on the helmet, but also to think”– Helmut Marko is annoyed with Yuki Tsunoda’s performances this year.

Yuki Tsunoda had an impressive campaign in F2 last year, which compelled Red Bull to give him a chance in Formula 1 by deploying him in Alpha Tauri.

Tsunoda had an amazing debut in F1, too, but from thereon, he has struggled to keep up with the competition and has engaged himself in some avoidable errors.

Helmut Marko, who is now concerned with Tsunoda’s performances, has talked about how the young Japanese race driver needs to mend his ways to extend his stay in F1.

Something that went under the radar at Hungary was that Yuki Tsunoda actually had a really good drive! He just needs to be more consistent and sort out his qualifying. He has the speed.

— TheOpinionatedRacer (@TheOpntdRcr) August 3, 2021

“Hmmm, the head is not only there to put on the helmet, but also to think,” Marko told Red Bull-owned publication Speedweek. “He’s young, with a lot of Japanese mentality, but he makes mistakes when they are not necessary at all, like in a first training session.”

“But it will be fine. He still has time.”

Pierre Gasly not leaving the stable

Marko then talked to Speedweek about Red Bull’s intentions to announce Max Verstappen’s partner for next year. The options are only between the incumbent Sergio Perez and increasingly impressive Pierre Gasly, who is trying to reclaim his position.

However, he also informed that even if Perez is decided to continue in Red Bull, Gasly would not be leaving Red Bull’s stable, discounting all the rumours of his move.

“To clarify, we have an optional contract on Gasly’s services until 2023, which we will also use. All other rumours are nonsense. He is definitely driving his strongest season.”

“And he is extremely important as team leader for AlphaTauri, the team has become a top team in midfield,” Marko concluded. Nevertheless, red Bull’s main aim this year is to pounce on the championship.

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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