Tsunoda Hit With Pit Lane Start and New Power Unit Penalty in Las Vegas

Yuki Tsunoda will start the Las Vegas Grand Prix from the pit lane after Red Bull opted for a complete power unit change following a dismal qualifying session. This strategic move aims to give the Japanese driver a fresh start and a potential boost for the race, despite incurring further penalties for exceeding component limits.

Why it matters:

This decision highlights a challenging weekend for Tsunoda and AlphaTauri, as they attempt to salvage a difficult situation with a radical strategy. Starting from the pit lane, while penalizing, also offers the flexibility to make setup changes beyond parc fermé rules, potentially optimizing the car for race conditions after a poor qualifying performance.

The details:

• Dismal Qualifying: Tsunoda qualified 19th, struggling significantly in the wet conditions on the Las Vegas Street Circuit. Only Lewis Hamilton, who also had an uncharacteristically poor session, was slower.
• Strategic Power Unit Change: Red Bull has fitted Tsunoda's RB21 with a new power unit for the 50-lap race. This includes:
  • Sixth internal combustion engine (ICE)
  • Sixth turbocharger
  • Sixth MGU-H
  • Sixth MGU-K
• Exceeding Component Limits: F1 regulations permit only four of each of these power unit components per season without penalty. Using a sixth of each incurs significant grid penalties, which are now compounded by the pit lane start.
• Additional Exhaust Penalty: Tsunoda also received a new exhaust system, his ninth of the campaign, further adding to the penalty list as only eight are prescribed for the year. This is an unusual number of exhaust changes for a single season.
• Pit Lane Start Implications: Starting from the pit lane means Tsunoda will begin the race after all other cars have left the grid. However, it also allows the team to break parc fermé regulations and make significant setup changes to the car, which could be an advantage given his qualifying struggles.

What's next:

While starting from the pit lane makes scoring points incredibly challenging, the new power unit and potential setup adjustments offer Tsunoda a slim chance to show improved pace. The focus will be on managing tire degradation and capitalizing on any safety car periods or race incidents that could bring him back into contention. It's a high-risk, potentially high-reward strategy for a driver and team desperate for a turnaround.