Tsunoda Sounds Alarm on 'Big' Red Bull Issue at Brazil GP
Both Red Bull cars, including Max Verstappen's, unexpectedly crashed out in Q1 at the Brazil Grand Prix qualifying, a rare underperformance. Yuki Tsunoda revealed Verstappen had used his setup and pointed to a "big" underlying issue with the RB21, signaling significant trouble for the dominant team.
Both Red Bull cars, including Max Verstappen's, were surprisingly eliminated in Q1 during Brazil GP qualifying, with Yuki Tsunoda hinting at a significant underlying problem. Verstappen reportedly used Tsunoda's setup, leading to struggles with an unresponsive RB21.
Why it matters:
Red Bull's unexpected Q1 exit with both cars is a major shock for a team that has dominated recent F1 seasons. This performance dip, especially for a driver of Verstappen's caliber, raises serious questions about the car's underlying issues and could indicate a potential shift in competitive dynamics for upcoming races if the problems persist.
The Details:
- Unexpected Q1 Elimination: Max Verstappen finished P16 and Yuki Tsunoda P18 in qualifying, marking a rare and significant underperformance for Red Bull Racing.
- Verstappen Used Tsunoda's Setup: Tsunoda confirmed that Verstappen adopted parts of his setup, including specific components, after changes were made following the Sprint race to improve car performance.
- Unresponsive RB21: Both drivers struggled with an RB21 that lacked responsiveness, forcing Verstappen to "under drive" the car to achieve any competitive lap time.
- Tsunoda's Denial of Setup Blame: Tsunoda stated that his setup was not to blame for the Q1 elimination, emphasizing that the team was able to get the tires to work and that his car felt "clearly better."
- "Big Issue": Tsunoda explicitly mentioned that despite improvements made from his side of the garage, "another issue came out which seems like it's quite big," suggesting a deeper, more systemic problem beyond just setup choices.
What's Next:
Red Bull will be scrambling to diagnose and rectify this "big" issue before the next race. Their ability to quickly identify and solve the problem will be crucial in maintaining their competitive edge and avoiding a repeat of this surprising performance dip. The team's engineers will undoubtedly be working overtime to understand what went wrong and ensure both cars are back to their usual formidable performance levels.