Yuki Tsunoda says Daniel Ricciardo has proven to be a really good "reference driver" who has introduced him to a different driving style that has opened up new avenues for his future growth.
Tsunoda had the opportunity to race alongside Ricciardo at AlphaTauri for seven Grand Prix this past season, following the team’s decision to draft in the Aussie as a replacement for the underperforming Nyck de Vries.
Ricciardo's initial two-race stint, which began before the summer break, was cut short at the Dutch Grand Prix when he fractured a bone in his left hand in FP1, forcing him to miss five races.
The 34-year-old returned for the final five races, in which Tsunoda out-qualified and finished ahead of Ricciardo on three occasions.
While acknowledging that Ricciardo’s cool-headed approach to events is often in stark contrast to his own often impulsive behavior, Tsunoda believes he is learning from his teammate and will continue to do so as they continue to work together.
"Always your team-mate is your biggest rival, but I think he's giving good feedback," Tsunoda told the media recently.
"I'm learning from him already with quite a lot of things, especially how he behaves towards the team.
"It is quite different to me, especially as it is quite the opposite, which I wanted to fix, and he's a really good reference driver.”
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Beyond their respective personalities and characters, Ricciardo and Tsunoda also differ in their driving styles. While the former relies on a smooth approach that minimizes a car’s stability, the latter is undeniably more aggressive in his attempts to unlock speed.
"We don't create the time to sit down together and talk about things, but when we have the time, like going to a drivers' meeting or when he's sitting in the same car, we talk as normal,” commented Tsunoda.
"We're quite different drivers with our style, and what we require from the team about the car is different, and that's actually a good thing.
"I can have a good idea of good options or something different with a different style, so it gives me options to go even faster."
While Tsunoda felt comfortable with AlphaTauri’s AT04 in the latter part of his campaign, he recognized the value of Ricciardo's input and pointers and is open to seeking his advice in the future if needed.
“I’ve not tried [Ricciardo’s advice] because I know how to drive this year’s car fast, and how to make the car fast,” said Tsunoda. “It worked for me, I’ve not had to change.
“For next year’s car, I don’t know how it’s going to be. It depends on how it behaves, so for me, it’s about the car’s behavior to maximise the performance, rather than just sticking to my driving style.
“If the car requires a different driving style compared to this year, I will try to adapt, and see how it goes.”
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