Yuki Tsunoda highlights Red Bull growth: 'I'm lapping close very close to Verstappen'

Yuki Tsunoda feels he is lapping “very close” to team-mate Max Verstappen as he seeks to save his drive at Red Bull.

Tsunoda's position within the Milton Keynes-based squad is in major doubt amid the Japanese driver's difficult season with the team.

Point-scoring results have not been a consistent feature of Tsunoda's campaign, leaving him 17th in the drivers' championship.

Tsunoda received praise last time out in Mexico City from team boss Laurent Mekies, who detailed that the pace on display was among the best Tsunoda has delivered this year.

The 25-year-old highlighted he feels he has taken a step forward in confidence as the season enters its closing stages.

“The benefit for me is that across the last two weekends the car has felt great when it has come to race pace, I’m lapping very close to Max and I feel confident in the car and the updates we have made,” Tsunoda said.

“If I can be consistent across the two qualifying sessions [in Brazil] then we should put ourselves in a strong position to be up there in the sprint and the race. 

“This weekend is about helping boost our constructors' points and being able to support Max where I can."

Red Bull is currently embroiled in a tense battle for second place in the standings, with 10 points separating it, Mercedes and Ferrari.

With rain forecast for the Sao Paulo F1 weekend in the coming days, Tsunoda stated it could be a “crazy” event.

“Brazil is always an exciting race, with weather that can throw up the unexpected,” he said.

“It looks like the rain could play a part in our weekend there again but everyone will be in the same position and it’s about how we maximise the time on track and handle it as a team. 

“The sprint format always holds its own challenges but add some rain in there and it could be a crazy weekend.”