Yuki Tsunoda Receives Boost from Red Bull
Red Bull has provided Yuki Tsunoda with a significant upgrade to enhance his Formula 1 season. This comes as Tsunoda qualified seventh at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Struggles with the RB21
Since replacing Liam Lawson at the Japanese GP in April, Tsunoda has faced difficulties adapting to the challenging RB21. His meager points tally of seven in ten races stands in sharp contrast to teammate Verstappen’s 137, causing frustration within Red Bull, which currently sits fourth in the constructors’ championship.
Setbacks and Recovery
Tsunoda’s quest for consistency took a hit in Imola when a crash during qualifying resulted in the loss of a new floor and other crucial components. This incident hampered his performance relative to Verstappen, as Red Bull worked to balance spare parts production and prioritize Verstappen’s needs.
New Floor Before Qualifying
Although Tsunoda still faced challenges compared to his teammate in Spa, Red Bull made a pivotal decision to provide him with a spare floor just before qualifying, despite the risks involved. Damage during qualifying could have led to penalties that would affect his standing in the upcoming Budapest race.
Achieving a Strong Qualifying Result
With the upgraded floor, Tsunoda successfully reached Q3, achieving his best grid position of seventh, just three tenths behind Verstappen. While this isn’t typically a remarkable result for Red Bull, the decision to support Tsunoda was a clear indication of the team’s faith in him, a sentiment that Tsunoda greatly appreciated as he approaches his 100th grand prix start.
Tsunoda’s Thoughts on the Upgrade
Expressing his gratitude post-qualifying, Tsunoda stated, “I was happy to have the upgrade. The mechanics worked hard to get it ready in time for qualifying, and that effort means a lot to me.” He noted that the changes had improved his chances of advancing further in qualifying.
Team Support and Future Optimism
Speaking to F1 TV, Mekies praised Tsunoda’s performance and the decision to upgrade his car just before qualifying, reaffirming that the risk was worthwhile. He stated that finishing in Q3 would likely boost Tsunoda’s confidence moving forward.
