AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost says Yuki Tsunoda needs another year under his belt before he could reasonably be considered for a promotion to Red Bull.
After a troubled 2022 season in which he was overshadowed by then-teammate Pierre Gasly and committed several unforced errors, Tsunoda has been quietly impressive in the opening months of 2023, scoring AlphaTauri's only two points of the season so far and outshining highly-rated new teammate Nyck de Vries.
AlphaTauri effectively serve as Red Bull's B-team, with several drivers having graduated to Red Bull from the junior side over the years, including incumbent Max Verstappen, along with Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat, Alex Albon and Gasly.
But despite Tsunoda's improved form so far in what is his third season in F1, Tost says the Japanese isn't ready for a promotion to Red Bull just yet.
"Yuki doesn't need good words," Tost told media, including RacingNews365.com.
"He is fast. He has done a fantastic job in the last two years, and if he continues like this, that he improves race by race, that he shows the performance, then Red Bull will discuss it and I think that he is in a good [path], but the rest we will see.
"He, for sure, needs another year."
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