Yuki Tsunoda Reflects on 'Very Rare' Las Vegas Qualifying Misery
Yuki Tsunoda had a dismal qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, starting P19. He cited extremely poor grip, a yellow flag, and unexpected extreme wet tire conditions as factors, expressing surprise at his lack of pace compared to previous performances on similar tires. This difficult outing intensifies pressure on Tsunoda to secure his F1 future.
Yuki Tsunoda struggled significantly during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing his P19 performance as a result of 'missing something' and driving on 'ice.' Despite a yellow flag disrupting his lap, he highlighted exceptionally poor grip levels and the unexpected need for extreme wet tires, a compound he previously excelled with in Brazil. This difficult session comes at a critical time for Tsunoda, who needs strong results to secure his Formula 1 future.
Why it matters:
Yuki Tsunoda's performance in Las Vegas could have significant implications for his future in Formula 1. With only a few rounds left in the season, a strong showing is crucial for the Japanese driver to retain his seat. A demotion to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) is increasingly seen as his most likely path, making every race vital for proving his worth and preventing a potential exit from the Red Bull family's F1 program.
The details:
- Poor Qualifying Performance: Tsunoda qualified P19, only ahead of Lewis Hamilton, marking one of his worst qualifying outings of the season.
- Unexpected Tire Choice: Rain after FP3 and into Q1 forced teams to initially consider intermediates, but the extreme wet tires (blue-walled) were ultimately necessary, a rare occurrence in F1. Tsunoda expressed surprise, stating, "We didn't expect to use the extreme tyre."
- Grip Issues: Tsunoda reported extremely low grip levels, describing his driving as being "literally driving on ice." He speculated that the specific tarmac in Las Vegas might have contributed to the slipperiness.
- Yellow Flag Impact: A yellow flag on his crucial lap further hampered his chances, though he admitted it wasn't the sole reason for his poor pace.
- Contrast to Brazil: He noted a stark contrast to his performance on extreme wet tires in Brazil last season, where he was "one second faster than anyone else" but was "three seconds off" in Las Vegas. This significant discrepancy left him baffled.
- Terrible Visibility: Tsunoda also labeled the visibility during the session as "terrible," suggesting the conditions were among the worst he has ever encountered in an F1 car.
What's next:
Tsunoda faces immense pressure to rebound from this setback. With his F1 future hanging in the balance, a strong race performance in Las Vegas, despite the poor starting position, is essential. The final races of the season will be critical for him to demonstrate his capabilities and secure his place on the grid, whether with Red Bull's primary team or Racing Bulls, or even to avoid being dropped from the Red Bull driver pool entirely.