Tsunoda highlights Ricciardo influence in 'emotional control'

Yuki Tsunoda has revealed that being team-mates with Daniel Ricciardo has had a huge influence on his "emotional control", with the Australian having been a huge factor in Tsunoda's impressive season. 

The Japanese driver has typically struggled to perform consistently, due to being ill-tempered. However, since being partnered at RB by Ricciardo, Tsunoda has been able to control his emotions significantly better. 

Of course, 2024 could be Tsunoda's final year alongside Ricciardo, as the eight-time F1 race winner remains without a contract for next year, unlike Tsunoda who has a new contract with RB. 

According to Tsunoda, Ricciardo has been a huge influence in the Faenza-based team, although he has no say in whether Ricciardo or Liam Lawson are signed for 2025. 

"It's not a thing I can decide or control," Tsunoda told select media including RacingNews365. "I don't mind with any team-mate but, for sure, Daniel is giving a lot of technical feedback and everything and is, of course, an important influence for us.

"There is a lot of positive things that we got, and probably some of the things we were able tp benefit from is because of him. But at the same time, it's up to them really."

Ricciardo role in Tsunoda development

Going into more detail regarding his positive relationship with Ricciardo, Tsunoda has outlined his "communication" with the Australian as a key strength. 

The pair communicating has resulted in an improved car across a Grand Prix, with Ricciardo's technical influence being unprecedented, despite some disappointing results for the Honey Badger.

It is learning from how Ricciardo deals with emotions which has benefitted Tsunoda's career the most though, with him now being able to perform consistently at a high standard after getting on top of it. 

"I think we have good communication and we're able to always turn it around in the week, and in qualifying we were able to put it all together as a set up and everything," Tsunoda told select media including RacingNews365. 

"So that will, for sure, affect consistency. And I think also he's more of a complete driver in general, like his emotional control, everything.  

"For example, last couple of years, I started in a pretty bad position, especially with my emotional control. How much you can be consistent throughout the weeks, and after he became my team-mate, he is very, very strong at that and was doing much better than me.

'For sure, those things I learnt, I got from him which affected my consistency throughout the year, especially my emotional control will affect the performance moods throughout the week. I think just for me, being able to grow race by race from his performance knowledge and everything."