Yuki Tsunoda's new manager has insisted the Japanese driver is "more intelligent than people think".
Red Bull promoted Tsunoda to a race seat alongside Max Verstappen in place of Liam Lawson after just two races this season, allowing him to make his debut in front of his home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix.
While Red Bull's second seat has been a revolving door in the past decade, Tsunoda is expected to see out the season and lay down a marker as to why he should remain alongside Verstappen into the future.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, manager Diego Menchaca revealed that he met Tsunoda during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend last year - the duo quickly deciding to work together.
Tsunoda spent two years in Japanese F4 before his F3 promotion. He went straight into F2 after a single season where his talent earned the call-up to F1.
A different perspective
"To be honest, I didn't realise how impressive his career in the junior categories was", said Menchaca.
"I then put everything into a different perspective and realised how much talent he has. You can see how much natural speed he possesses."
"That's something I believe the people around him are also impressed by, his technical feedback and understanding of this sport. I am sure he is more intelligent than people think."
"He is a big personality and easygoing, but above all, he is very intelligent. If you have been in F1 for so many years, it is clear that he is an intelligent person."
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