A discreet weekend, but a rather successful weekend for Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese has fulfilled its goal in Miami, by qualifying in Q3 and scoring a few points on the Floridian meeting. However, it was not a rest for the new Red Bull driver, who had started very badly on Friday by being eliminated from the SQ1 before the sprint. Nevertheless, thanks to the weather and a timing inspired for its stop at the stands – but also thanks to the penalties applied at the end of the race – the Japanese pilot was able to go back to 6th place du Sprint, his best arrival in the race since he was at Red Bull.
The next day, during the Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda quickly found himself in a no man’s land In 10th place, without anyone with whom to fight with. Not in the rhythm of the pilots in front of him, but faster than those from behind, the n ° 22 seemed to be condemned to finish 10th, his starting position. But that was before his visit to the stands … and his arrival a little too fast in the path of the stands. By trying to optimize its entrance, the Japanese blocked its wheels and has been guilty of speeding up in front of the radar. The penalty was immediate: 5 seconds of penalty for an almost null gain. Thus, Yuki Tsunoda found himself under the threat of Isack Hadjar for the last point available, and finally managed to keep his 10th place for only a tenth of a second.
“My former teammate certainly did not facilitate my life! In the last 10 laps, he accelerated the pace when I attacked, and in addition he returned. It was really difficult, but I needed what I had to do and I maximized my rhythm, said Pilot Red Bull after the Miami Grand Prix. Obviously, [cette erreur] was a little useless and it made my life much more difficult with the five seconds [de pénalité]. I am happy to be able to score points, but at the same time I am not satisfied with the rhythm I had, and I think that the whole team fought [sur] the overall pace, not only me, so [c’est] Something we have to look at. »»
-Tsunoda not yet comfortable
Result: with 6th place in the sprint and 10th place during the Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda leaves Miami with four additional points. The second Red Bull driver never had so many points during a race weekend from the United States Grand Prix, in October 2024 (six points scored by Sergio Pérez). An eternity for a stable of this caliber. Over the weekends, Yuki Tsunoda settles in the Top 10 and takes her marks with the RB21. Nevertheless, the Japanese pilot is far from being satisfied by his own performances, he who admits being always in delicacy with the Austrian car. In Miami, he was not in the face against the Ferrari and even against the Williams.
“The Williams were flying [dimanche] But at the same time, I think we did not have a good pace at all, conceded Yuki Tsunoda. I had trouble from the qualifications: I have the impression that the car does not behave as I expect, and it is currently the main limitation. To be honest, it is difficult to explain what is the problem. I did everything I could do during this race and it was probably the maximum that I could do for the moment. Of course we will have to look more closely, for driving style or other, but yes, it’s difficult. »» If its results are still far from perfect, especially in comparison with Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda begins, little by little, to make his hole at Red Bull. As long as it lasts.
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