After a tough Melbourne race, Racing Bulls’ Hadjar and Tsunoda focus on Shanghai’s Sprint weekend, aiming to convert raw speed into solid points.
Racing Bulls had a promising weekend in Melbourne, showing more pace than expected. Yet, despite their potential, the team left Australia empty-handed after a tough Sunday in the midfield battle.
Hadjar’s Painful Exit, but a Quick Reset for Shanghai
Isack Hadjar had high hopes for a points finish after qualifying 11th. But his race ended before it even began—he lost control on the formation lap, a moment that left fans, not just in France, heartbroken. Even Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s father, took a moment to console the young driver after the devastating setback.
Now, just a few days later, Hadjar is determined to move on and make up for lost ground in Shanghai. But as a rookie, the challenge will be even tougher with the Sprint format in play.
“Heading to China, I feel more confident than I did before Australia,” Hadjar shared.
“In Melbourne, I was immediately comfortable with the car in short runs and qualifying, which was one of our key targets after analyzing our Bahrain test data.”
“Of course, I still lack race experience, but having a Sprint weekend is actually a good thing—it gives me a shorter race to find my rhythm before the main event.”
Tsunoda’s Missed Opportunity, but Encouraging Pace
Yuki Tsunoda also left Australia with a sense of frustration. The Japanese driver was running just outside the podium places before a strategic misstep cost him valuable positions—his team, like Ferrari, waited too long to change tires.
However, the takeaway from Melbourne wasn’t all negative. Tsunoda’s car showed impressive pace, and he’s eager to carry that momentum into China.
“Shanghai is quite a unique track, and I really enjoy it. I believe we can have a strong weekend,” Tsunoda said.
“Our performance level in Melbourne was solid whenever we were on track. If we can maximize FP1 and pick up where we left off, we should be competitive. It’s also the first Sprint weekend of the year, so we need to stay fully focused.”
Shanghai’s Unique Challenge: What to Expect
Racing Bulls’ sporting director, Alain Permane—formerly of Alpine F1—has analyzed the technical aspects of the Shanghai circuit. He highlights two key factors that could influence race strategy: Pirelli’s decision to bring harder tire compounds and the impact of the track resurfacing.
“After a chaotic and ultimately disappointing Sunday in Melbourne, we head straight to Shanghai for Round 2 and the season’s first Sprint weekend,” Permane explained.
“Shanghai is a real challenge for both drivers and engineers. It features a mix of tight hairpins, high-speed sections with rapid direction changes, and that endless banked corner leading onto the 1.2km back straight. Tire degradation has historically been high, making strategy crucial.”
“In 2024, the race required a two-stop strategy, but the track has since been completely resurfaced, which could change the game. Pirelli is bringing compounds one step harder than those used in Melbourne, and with only one hour of free practice before Sprint Qualifying on Friday, teams must be spot on with their setups from the very first lap.”
With a fast car but unfinished business, Racing Bulls will be aiming to turn potential into points in Shanghai. Can Hadjar bounce back? Will Tsunoda capitalize on his speed? The first Sprint weekend of the year might just bring the answers.
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After the Heartbreak in Australia – Hadjar and Tsunoda Look Ahead After the Heartbreak in Australia – Hadjar and Tsunoda Look Ahead
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