Yuki Tsunoda ended his season with a 12th place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The RB F1 driver says he is proud of what he has achieved this year, even if his team was unable to fight against Alpine and Haas, both in the top 10 this Sunday, and finished eighth in the championship builders.
“My race was almost over at the start, I don't know what happened, I have to see what the team tells me. But I'm 99% sure that the clutch stuck” Tsunoda said, before detailing his arguments.
“I've never stalled in a start in my life and I didn't do anything wrong with the procedure. I felt it in the pits when stopping, the clutch couldn't really stop the car “It's a shame because I would have liked to have had a good race. I tried to do my best, but it was difficult.”
“A great last race, I'm proud of what we did during the year, proud of myself and the team, we weren't able to accomplish what we wanted but we gave it our all. % with the team, that's the most important thing, and we'll have another chance next year.”
Liam Lawson looked set for a positive race but the team attached one of his wheels incorrectly during a pit stop, and he had to do a slow lap before returning to the garage. He does not hide his frustration at having had such an obstacle.
“It sucks. I had a really good pace throughout the race. And even though I'm out of the competition and one lap away, I'm going to give it my all. I think it was one of my best races , I gave everything, but with the problem in the pit, it ruined my race” Lawson said.
Asked about his chances of returning next year and whether he did what he could, the New Zealander draws a positive personal assessment of these six races at RB F1: “I gave it my all in every session I drove, and the decision is theirs, so we’ll see.”
