Yuki Tsunoda ended his British Grand Prix qualifying session frustrated after falling short of Q3 by just a tenth of a second, resulting in a P11 starting position for tomorrow’s race once Oliver Bearman’s grid penalty is accounted for. The Red Bull driver, who has faced challenges this season with the Milton Keynes-based machinery, had hoped his performance at Silverstone marked a turning point in his campaign.
Power Loss Identified as Main Reason Behind Missed Q3
After the session, Tsunoda disclosed that a sudden loss of power during his final lap cost him a crucial time advantage that would have secured his place among the top 10. He explained,
“I lost the power, to be honest,”
highlighting how the drop in power emerged as he approached the last corner and accelerated along the main straight. This deficit caused him to lose roughly a tenth of a second from Turn 3 onwards, including several failed acceleration boosts during the ultimate push.
Despite this setback, Tsunoda was optimistic about his pace prior to experiencing the issue. He added,
“So, considering that, the lap was pretty good. And how tight it was… I think most likely I was going through to Q3. So, really annoying. Q3 was possible.”
Building Confidence Despite Technical Difficulties
The timing of the power failure was particularly unfortunate as Tsunoda has been focused on proving his worth amid ongoing debates about his future with Red Bull, following a string of disappointing results. Reflecting on his weekend overall, he expressed satisfaction with his progress leading into qualifying.
“Really happy with the progress I’ve had. I think this was the cleanest race weekend we’ve had so far. The confidence and everything… Car felt good in qualifying. Every time, there’s something I get in the last push. Well, it’s not always the last push, but this time it was the last push, when it counts. It’s annoying. And to be honest, like I said – without that, I would’ve gone through to Q3. So yeah, that’s annoying.”
Tsunoda acknowledged the support he received from his team helped restore his confidence each weekend, but the unexpected power issue in qualifying was beyond his control.
“The team gave massive support for me to gain that confidence back again. And it was working. Until qualifying, in terms of preparation, everything went well.”
“Just the last push, you know, the power thing, it’s not a thing I can control. Really, really annoying.”
Looking Ahead to a Challenging Race Day
Although Tsunoda will start closer to the points on the grid compared to his P18 start in Austria, where he finished 16th due to multiple retirements, he remains aware that an uphill battle awaits him. He reflected on his recent improvement positively but emphasized the need to capitalize on opportunities during the race.
“At least I’m not starting P18… closer to the points. So, you know, that helps. I’m looking forward to the race. It’s been a while since I scored points, to be honest. Last time I scored… I don’t remember. So, I have to score points and make the team happy.”
Confidence boosted by progress, Tsunoda remains hopeful despite the challenges ahead. He underscored a clear plan for how to approach the race and sounds determined to continue fighting back in the remaining rounds.
“So, it’s probably still going to be a tough race, but at least we made a couple of steps that I think I can do.”
“I know what to do better going into the race as well. So, I’m still being optimistic. But I don’t think you’ve seen the full picture yet. And at the same time, still – it’s not – There are a couple of bits and bobs of it, you know. I know there’s something to come from the car as well. So… coming races, let’s say, so let’s see.”
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Yuki Tsunoda ever win a race?
A. Yuki Tsunoda’s journey to Formula One started in 2016, when he first competed in the Japanese F4 championship at Suzuka. During that series, he achieved 10 race wins and stood on the podium 18 times. Additionally, he secured 12 pole positions and recorded five fastest laps.
Q. Is Yuki Tsunoda the shortest F1 driver ever?
A. Yuki Tsunoda is the shortest driver in Formula 1, standing at 1.59 meters (5 feet 2 inches). He has held this title since he started racing in 2021.
