Pierre Gasly has advised his good friend and former teammate Yuki Tsunoda to ignore all rumors surrounding his future at Red Bull. The Japanese driver is under pressure as he has only finished in the points a few times since his promotion to the main team; he has rarely been able to compete with Red Bull veteran Max Verstappen. Gasly, who also fell short next to the Dutchman in 2019, knows better than anyone what Tsunoda is going through.
In the run-up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly was asked about Yuki Tsunoda’s situation. The 25-year-old Red Bull driver has only finished in the points once in the last ten Grand Prix. As a result, his future in Formula 1 is in jeopardy. Gasly advises Tsunoda to stay focused on his own performance.
Ensuring it Doesn’t Get to Your Head
“Every situation is very specific, and we all deal with it in our own way,” Gasly said during a press conference in Baku. “It depends on who you are as an individual, as an athlete; what works for you and what doesn’t, and what kind of support and environment you need.” However, the Frenchman admitted that he talks with Tsunoda about the challenges at Red Bull. “We have open conversations about this,” he said. “We have a good relationship, and I think he ultimately needs to figure out how to best focus on his performance. In a competitive sport, that’s all that matters.”
Gasly, who himself lasted twelve races alongside Max Verstappen, wants to impress upon Tsunoda that he must ignore external factors. “There will always be a lot of conversations, a lot of noise,” he explained. “The challenge is to ensure it doesn’t get to your head. You need to wake up every day with the thought: ‘How do I get better at what I do?’. Whether you’re going through good or bad times, that’s the only question that can help you move forward.”
