Tsunoda thinks De Vries should have been given longer

AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda has shed light on the sudden departure of Nyck de Vries ahead of the Hungary Grand Prix. In an interview with Racefans and others, the Japanese driver indicated that De Vries deserved to be in the Alpha Tauri at least until the summer break.

On 11 July, news broke that Nyck de Vries' F1 career was coming to an end after just ten races. And from the Hungary Grand Prix onwards, Daniel Ricciardo will take over De Vries' seat. As a result, the Dutch driver will say goodbye without scoring any points in his appearances with AlphaTauri. Yuki Tsunoda has so far scored just two points in 10 races.

On the one hand, Tsunoda feels that the Dutchman should have been given more time in his debut season. But on the other hand, the Japanese driver also understands Red Bull's motives. "I think he should have been given more time. I think just 10 races, especially at a couple of tracks that he didn’t know, I think so. At the same time, I know what Red Bull’s side is, what they’re saying. But I think he deserved at least until probably the summer break. I was thinking like that." Helmut Marko, however, took the decisive decision to show De Vries the door after ten races.

Yuki Tsunoda already indicated several times in the media that he and De Vries knew a good relationship. Even after the Dutchman's dismissal, the good relationship between the two remains for now. "I told him what I felt and also appreciation to him, and he gave me a very nice message back,” he said. “So, obviously, we’re friends, and I felt he was a really nice guy and a respectful person. I can respect a lot of things from him."