Why Yuki Tsunoda Struggled in F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Insights from Red Bull Consultant

Published: 2024/4/21 09:00

While Daniel Ricciardo showed signs of finally coming into the fifth race of the season, Hiroki Tsunoda, who had outpaced his RB teammate in qualifying and finals in the opening four races, to I suddenly stopped at the Shanghai International Ring Road.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner outperformed Yuki Tsunoda in every session leading up to qualifying at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix. In free practice, he was 7 tenths of a second, in sprint qualifying he was 5 tenths, and in qualifying he was still ahead by 3 tenths.

Before the weekend, Yuki Tsunoda said, “I’m definitely confident,” and set his sights on Q3 qualifying and the battle for points, but after the first day, he lamented, “This is the first time I “I struggled so much,” and it ended up being suitable.

Regarding his lap in qualifying, Yuki Tsunoda said, “I was very satisfied,” but his lap time did not match his feeling, and he finished in the last row of the grid, 19th. just like in sprint qualification. .

We had a problem with DRS in qualifying, but it was working in the second flying lap, so we didn’t use this as an excuse, saying that although it affected the time, it didn’t really affect the driving. or machine. balance.

This position is very similar to Ricciardo’s position in the first four races. Like Hiroki Tsunoda, Ricciardo has been concerned about the difference between his own feeling and lap times, and he just received his long-awaited new chassis this weekend.

Does Yuki Tsunoda have some kind of problem with his car too? Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport consultant, doesn’t think so.

When asked why Hiroki Tsunoda continued to struggle throughout the weekend, including qualifying, and lost to Ricciardo for the first time this season, he replied Marco, “This is the first time he has been led on this tour,” and he said that there was a lack of experience. one reason.

He also expressed that spending FP1, his only practice, on hard tires did not help him prepare for the subsequent sessions of sprint qualifying, sprint qualifying, and main qualifying. Hiroki Tsunoda did not use solid tires in each session.

“Overall he has been complaining about a car that is very unstable and I think that is the main reason,” said Marko, asking for support from the team.

Special Feature F1 China GP