Yuki Tsunoda Reflects on Red Bull Season, Cites Imola Crash as Only Regret
Yuki Tsunoda reflects on his challenging Red Bull season, stating his only regret is the Imola qualifying crash that hindered his progress, not his overall performance. Despite an uncertain future, he remains committed to helping Max Verstappen in the championship fight, believing strong performances will benefit his career.
Yuki Tsunoda's Formula 1 future is uncertain after a challenging season with Red Bull, but the Japanese driver insists his only regret stems from a major qualifying crash at Imola, not his overall results. He also aims to support Max Verstappen's championship bid in the final races.
Why it matters:
Yuki Tsunoda's precarious position at Red Bull highlights the immense pressure on drivers in top-tier F1 teams. His introspection reveals the high stakes involved and the fine line between success and a potential exit. For Red Bull, the performance of its secondary driver, even if not directly competing for the title, can significantly impact the constructors' championship and strategic race dynamics.
The Details:
- Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson after the first two rounds of the campaign, who struggled to match Max Verstappen's pace.
- Despite occasionally scoring points, Tsunoda has frequently finished outside the top 10, fueling speculation about his future.
- Imola Crash: Tsunoda stated his "only regret" was the major crash during qualifying in Imola, where he flipped his car and was forced to switch to an older specification.
- He believes this incident "probably back-stepped quite a lot" in terms of parts and performance development.
- Decision to join Red Bull: Tsunoda maintains that he is "happy" with his decision to join Red Bull, stating it "made me stronger."
- Future Prospects: It is widely anticipated that Tsunoda will not retain his seat for next year, with Isack Hadjar reportedly poised for promotion following a strong rookie season in other categories.
- Supporting Verstappen: In the season's final two rounds, Tsunoda aims to assist Max Verstappen's championship push against McLaren.
- He believes being "in the mix" and helping Verstappen will naturally place him at the front of the grid, which would also be "positive for me as well" and "lead to positive things to my future."
- Recent Performance: Tsunoda felt he had his "best weekend" in Vegas until qualifying, where "everything went south" due to factors he claims were "not in my control."
What's next:
Yuki Tsunoda will focus on delivering strong performances in the remaining two races to boost Max Verstappen's title hopes and make a final statement on his own F1 capabilities. His efforts to support Verstappen could be crucial in the tight championship battle and might indirectly influence his future opportunities within or outside the Red Bull ecosystem, as teams constantly evaluate driver market options for the upcoming seasons.