Yuki Tsunoda’s competitive run at the Dutch Grand Prix took a severe hit when a throttle glitch crippled his Red Bull car during the final stages of the race. The problem occurred immediately after his last pit stop on lap 54, forcing him to contend with unresponsive throttle settings that disrupted his performance and chances of a stronger finish.
The issue originated from a critical error that locked Tsunoda into the wrong throttle map, a situation confirmed by his team principal Laurent Mekies, who explained that Tsunoda
“basically drove the final part with a really, really not friendly throttle map.”
This glitch left the driver struggling to control his car during the closing laps, severely hampering his ability to compete effectively.
How FIA Regulations Influenced the Severity of the Glitch
Until 2020, Formula 1 teams had the flexibility to change engine and throttle maps dynamically, which allowed drivers to optimize power delivery. However, the FIA’s restrictions on engine modes, aimed at eliminating ‘party modes,’ now limit teams to a single engine setting during a race, with adjustments permitted only in specific situations. This regulatory change meant Tsunoda could not correct the throttle map error from the cockpit once it occurred.
During his pit stop, the team aimed to perform a crucial switch to ‘launch mode’ for better acceleration out of the pits. Race engineer Richard Wood directed Tsunoda with,
“It’ll be strat 12 in the pitlane, strat 12.”
Unfortunately, after the stop, Tsunoda was told to switch back to “strat 11,” but the transition malfunctioned. Tsunoda was then informed,
“Okay, so we are stuck in the pedal map,”
a situation leaving an unresponsive throttle between 15% and 40% pedal travel, critically impairing his control.
Driver’s Struggle and Team’s Response to the Malfunction
Confronted with this throttle malfunction, Tsunoda’s frustration was evident. He radioed the team saying, “I don’t have power,” to which the team replied,
You do not have power until 40% throttle. It’s a very flat pedal map. We cannot fix it on track. Try and get used to it under the safety car just now.
This response highlighted the extent of the problem and the inability to resolve it while racing.
Laurent Mekies offered further insight, explaining the pit lane protocol led to the predicament:
Basically, when you are in the pitlane, you are changing maps. And if you don’t change back, you are locked into it for the rest of the time. So that’s what happened.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda persevered and completed the race.
Final Position and Performance Amid Adversity
Despite facing significant limitations, Tsunoda managed to secure 9th place, finishing just 4.1 seconds behind Lance Stroll. His engineer praised his resilience during the difficult final stint, saying,
That wasn’t easy. You did a really good job learning in the safety car,
acknowledging the driver’s adaptability despite the throttle challenges.
Nevertheless, Tsunoda’s disappointment was clear when he remarked,
At some point, the safety car was faster than my car,
and added,
Our team did a fantastic job to minimize damage, but still, I lost a lot of performance. I was in P11. It was a good execution for me, but it could have been better.
He reflected on his luck during the race, saying,
I felt like everything was there, it was against me,
and noted how the timing of the safety car worked against him:
The first safety car didn’t help at all. The people I was fighting with ended up in P5, P6. It was not easy to even score points there.
The Impact of the Glitch and Future Prospects
Despite this unexpected challenge, Tsunoda’s ninth-place finish earned him his first points since the Imola race in May, offering a small but important boost after a difficult weekend. According to Mekies, under normal circumstances, Tsunoda may have climbed as high as seventh:
He was unfortunate with the first safety car timing,
illustrating how closely the pit stop error and subsequent glitch influenced his final position.
The Dutch Grand Prix underscored the fragility of race outcomes in Formula 1, where mechanical and electronic issues, even minor, can dramatically alter results. Tsunoda’s experience highlights the ongoing challenges drivers face in adapting to new regulations and the unforgiving nature of throttle management systems. Looking ahead, his ability to manage adversity during the race will provide valuable experience as Red Bull seeks to optimize performance and reliability in upcoming events.
