Yuki Tsunoda slips in Q2 at home, yet flashes of raw pace in the RB21 hint at stronger performances to come.
A tough break at Suzuka, but Yuki Tsunoda is starting to get comfortable behind the wheel of the RB21.
The Japanese driver took a bit of a gamble in qualifying, opting for a rear wing with more downforce than teammate Max Verstappen. In hindsight, that may not have been the right call.
Still, things got off to a strong start. Tsunoda looked confident in Q1, finishing seventh without any issues. His first flying lap was 0.294 seconds off Verstappen’s pace, but he closed the gap to just 0.024 seconds on his second run — a clear sign of progress.
Q2, however, didn’t go quite as planned. While Verstappen went out on fresh soft tyres, Tsunoda’s first run was on used ones. The difference showed: he ended up 0.652 seconds behind the Dutchman.
Even on new tyres, he struggled. Poor tyre warm-up and a lack of top speed meant he could only improve by 0.154 seconds. That left him just over two-tenths short of making it into Q3 — a disappointing result.
“I didn’t get my tyres into the right window in Q2,” Tsunoda explained. “That led to a few small mistakes, and the car was a bit too loose. I’m still learning how to drive the RB21 on the limit.”
He also reflected on his setup choices: “I probably went a bit too aggressive with the rear wing. But if it rains tomorrow, or the track is wet, it could actually help me.”
“Whatever the conditions, I’m focused. I can fight back from P15.”
So is he more frustrated or optimistic after matching Verstappen’s pace early on?
“I had the pace for Q3, I just didn’t put it all together. I felt good under pressure and was ready to deliver. It’s frustrating, but the upside is that I’m starting to understand the car better.”
“She’s a tricky one to drive, but I’m gaining confidence. I know what I need to work on now.”
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agrees the potential is there:
“He looked strong in Q1 — just a tenth off Max and right behind him on the board. In Q2, he might’ve pushed a bit too hard into Turn 1, lost grip, and couldn’t recover the time.”
“I think he easily had the pace for the top 10. But he drove well, and that’s a promising sign for the race.”
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Suzuka Setback for Tsunoda but Confidence Builds Fast
Suzuka Setback for Tsunoda but Confidence Builds Fast