Tsunoda's 'nice touch' performance earns Horner praise

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has hailed Yuki Tsunoda, claiming his outing in Abu Dhabi was his best race of the season.

Tsunoda undertook a one-stop strategy at Yas Marina, and lead a Grand Prix for the first time during the pit-stop cycle between Laps 18 and 22 as AlphaTauri tried to secure seventh in the Constructors' Championship from Williams.

The Japanese race eventually came home in eighth place, which was not enough to catch Williams as the sole driver on the one-stop strategy inside the top 10.

A late-season improvement from both the team and driver enabled the ultimately fruitless chase for seventh, but Tsunoda, who is set for a fourth season with the Faenza-squad in 2024, caught Horner's eye.

Horner backs Tsunoda

“He did a great job, particularly on the one stop,” Horner told media including RacingNews365.

“He obviously looked after his tyres very well. And for that strategy, he had very strong pace. I think it was arguably his best race of the year.”

Tsunoda was the only driver from the Red Bull sister squad in the points as Daniel Ricciardo endured a more challenging Grand Prix.

“I think Daniel had a tear off or something in the brake duct so it affected his race,” Horner added.

“But you know, well done to Yuki and Franz [Tost, AlphaTauri Team Principal] in his final race to have led the Grand Prix, it was a nice touch.