Tsunoda Demands Answers from Red Bull After Vegas Blunder
Yuki Tsunoda is demanding answers from Red Bull after a critical tire pressure error in Las Vegas qualifying severely impacted his performance. The mishap, which saw him significantly slower than Max Verstappen, underscores a challenging season and could jeopardize his future with the team, despite his strong practice pace leading up to the incident.
Yuki Tsunoda is seeking clear explanations from Red Bull regarding the critical tire pressure error that severely hampered his qualifying performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The mishap, which left him significantly slower than teammate Max Verstappen, highlights a challenging season for Tsunoda and raises further questions about his future with the team.
Why it matters:
Yuki Tsunoda's F1 career hangs precariously, and this avoidable error in Las Vegas could be a significant blow to his chances of retaining a Red Bull drive. For Red Bull, such a fundamental mistake in tire pressure indicates operational slip-ups that need immediate attention, especially as the team evaluates driver lineups and technical precision.
The details:
- Qualifying Disparity: Tsunoda qualified 3.340 seconds slower than Max Verstappen in the wet Las Vegas session, a stark contrast to his practice pace.
- Red Bull's Admission: Team principal Laurent Mekies openly admitted to "quite big mistakes" regarding incorrect tire pressures on Tsunoda's car during qualifying.
- Tsunoda's Frustration: Tsunoda expressed deep disappointment and a strong desire for answers, stating, "It was so basic stuff... There's not much chance to be competitive with that. It was avoidable. We just literally threw it away."
- Impact on Race: The poor qualifying result directly led to a pointless finish for Tsunoda, further complicating his bid to secure his seat.
- Championship Standing: He currently sits 17th in the championship with 28 points, far behind Verstappen's 366.
- Practice Pace Positive: Despite the qualifying disaster, Tsunoda found solace in his practice performance, claiming he was "fighting quite strongly against Max and multiple times ahead of him" in FP1-FP3. He sees this as a positive indication that his pace is improving.
What's next:
With Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar expected to be promoted, every performance is critical for Tsunoda. He aims to carry his strong practice pace from Las Vegas into upcoming races, starting with Qatar, to demonstrate his capability and secure his future. Resolving the communication and operational issues that led to the tire pressure error will be crucial for Red Bull and a major step in restoring Tsunoda's confidence.