Yuki Tsunoda is ready for the final hat-trick of races of the season. The RB F1 driver was able to sort out personal details related to a move and will arrive with a clear mind in Las Vegas this weekend, where he explains what the challenge will be in terms of setup.
“The slightly longer break from Brazil meant I had time to move” Tsunoda explains. “And I also had a few simulator sessions to prepare for this last hat-trick of the season. It’s an unusual circuit, very long for a street circuit, with mainly slow corners.”
“So the setup of the car is a compromise between having enough downforce to help with heavy braking at the end of the three long straights and having good traction in the corners, whilst not having too much drag which affects your top speed on very fast straights.”
“It gets very cold at night, so one of the main challenges is keeping the brakes and tires in the correct operating window during a long stint in the race and during a fast lap in qualifying.”
“Last year the drivers took part in a lot of off-track activities, so I’m curious to see what the organizers have planned for us this time!”
For Liam Lawson, it will be a baptism of fire in the gaming capital of the world: “I'm looking forward to racing in Vegas, it's an iconic place, with a unique circuit. It looks quite tricky with a lot of braking zones combined in some places.”
“It's a fast circuit; obviously we're driving on the Strip with a very long straight, which allows for overtaking. It looks like the conditions will be quite cold, like last year, so it will definitely be a challenge.”
“But I'm super excited to be racing under the lights. Last year I was there watching and wishing I was behind the wheel, so it's an exciting feeling to go into the week knowing I'll be in the car this time.”
Jody Egginton, the technical director of RB F1, appreciates this circuit which encourages overtaking: “We now head to Las Vegas for the first leg of the final treble of the season, while the fight for positions in the constructors' championship is still very close.”
“The Las Vegas circuit is relatively new, having first appeared on the calendar last year. The race takes place at night on a street circuit which includes parts of the famous Las Vegas Strip and is the third of the three Grands Prix organized in the United States this year.”
“With a length of 6.2 kilometers, 17 bends and a straight of 1.9 km, there is no shortage of challenges for drivers and engineers. As the circuit is temporary, grip levels are generally low.”
“And although there is some evolution over the weekend, the grip remains at a high level, which is part of the challenges that drivers face at this venue. The track layout pushes the teams to remove support, aiming for high efficiency, which means that the search for aspiration can help in overtaking.”
“The section from Turn 6 to Turn 9 provides enough space for drivers to overtake, as does Turn 17, if the driver has enough braking confidence. Following recent events, we hope to be in the thick of the battle from the middle of the pack, and beat us in what will be an intensive end to the season.”
