Tsunoda will aim to help Verstappen's title fight however he can in Brazil
The Japanese driver is out of contract at the end of the season
Yuki Tsunoda hopes he can help Max Verstappen out in his bid for a fifth straight world championship, which in turn would help him stay at Red Bull Racing next season.
The Japanese has had a torrid time since making the switch to Tilbrook after two races this season, swapping with New Zealander Liam Lawson to see him return to Racing Bulls.
Finishing in the points only six times, with a highest finish of sixth, Tsunoda has only contributed 28 points compared to Verstappen’s 321 in the constructor’s championship, and without a contract in place for next season, his head is on the chopping block.
Heading into this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, and with the Dutchman still in with an outside chance of the world title, Tsunoda hopes he can help his team-mate in the battle against the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
“This weekend is about helping boost our constructors points and being able to support Max where I can,” he said. “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.
“If I can be consistent across the two qualifying sessions then we should put ourselves in a strong position to be up there in the sprint and the race.”
Verstappen heads into the sprint weekend now just 36 adrift in the standings, having sliced the gap down from 101 just a few months ago.
After a sensational performance last season, where he came from 17th to win in the rain, Verstappen hopes for a repeat performance.
He said: “It can rain heavily there so you can have quite crazy races, especially last year’s race where we won after qualifying 17th, which was an emotional win and an important moment in the championship.