F1’s Yuki Tsunoda warned over foul-mouthed radio rants – ‘It hurts the team’

Mercedes boss hopes ‘robbed’ Lewis Hamilton will continue racing

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Rookie Yuki Tsunoda has been fired a warning by his Alpha Tauri team boss Franz Tost after his foul-mouthed rants on the team radio during sessions. As early as Bahrain, it became apparent the Japanese driver had a temper whilst behind the wheel and he admitted earlier in the season he was working on ‘controlling’ himself on the radio for future Grands Prix.

Tsunoda was heard raging at traffic in Bahrain, ranted about the “traffic paradise” at Imola, and was even told to calm down by his race engineer after a furious radio message in Spain.

Although some have found it amusing, his team boss did not share the same sentiment.

“I will request him not to do it,” said Tost. “He can shout to himself and not switch on the radio.

“It hurts him, and it hurts the team.”

JUST IN:
George Russell admits regret specific regret over Williams spell 

But the Alpha Tauri boss was sympathetic about the pressures on drivers on track, adding: “You can say to him ‘please don’t say this, it’s not good for your image, it’s not good for the team, be quiet’ and then he closes the visor, sits in the car, has a problem for whatever reason and he gets upset.”

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, who has plenty to do with the junior team, added: “His language isn’t very Japanese. It gives him bad publicity in Japan. I’m not sure if he knows the meaning.”

The 21-year-old had a mixed debut season in F1. After initially impressing across the first few races, his form started to drop over the latter stages of the year with the Japanese caught up in a few crashes.

DON’T MISS:
Mercedes 2022 change leaks early ahead new Hamilton and Russell
F1 bosses fired stern warning over rule change based on Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull remind Mercedes of small advantage they have over F1 rivals

Finishing an impressive P14 in the driver standings, Tsunoda addressed his team radio rants.

“Controlling myself is now the main topic for me now, 100%, and especially in Barcelona, I was fully out of control,” Tsunoda told Formula1.com.

“I don’t know why but I just pressed the radio. I didn’t have to, but I just pressed the radio.

“I don’t know why but I had to shout at them. this is definitely now my weak point and I have to now really improve on this radio communications.

“And from there it was getting better for radio things and I think it could be [even] better.

“I don’t know why I get too heated up in the [cockpit]. I really like to do the lap by myself naturally, even like I don’t want to have something disturb in my push lap, especially if I’m having quite a good lap.

“I think most of the drivers have the same thing.”

Source: Read Full Article