Tsunoda bounces back strong in China, while rookie Hadjar overdrives and misses out on SQ3 after a promising start.
Yuki Tsunoda delivered a solid performance in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix, clocking the eighth-fastest time and securing a spot in SQ3 for Racing Bulls. After a tough outing in Melbourne, the Japanese driver says he’s put the past behind him and is focused on the now.
“I’ve moved on from last week. It’s a fresh start, and mentally, it feels like arriving at a completely new track,” Tsunoda said. “I’m happy with the result and how the session played out.”
Tsunoda benefited from a slipstream in SQ2, thanks to teammate Isack Hadjar, who didn’t make it through to SQ3. While Tsunoda admits there was still more potential in the car, he appreciated the teamwork.
“There were things we could’ve done better with the setup to unlock 100% of the car’s performance. It’s a shame for Isack, but his help in SQ2 made a difference. Great team effort overall.”
Tire degradation remains a major question mark for Saturday’s Sprint, according to Tsunoda.
“Honestly, it’s tough to predict. This track puts a lot of stress on tires—front, rear, left, right—it’s all over the place. Sometimes it’s the front that suffers, sometimes the rear. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
On the other side of the garage, Isack Hadjar was knocked out in SQ2 after a critical mistake on his only flying lap. The French rookie was clearly frustrated but is keeping a positive outlook for the rest of the weekend.
“It’s been a tricky battle with the car since this morning. Everyone’s sliding on entry and the tires are overheating in the corners,” Hadjar explained. “I knew I only had one shot in SQ2, and I just pushed too hard trying to make SQ3. I overdid it.”
Despite the setback, Hadjar sees signs of progress.
“SQ1 felt really good. It’s a big step forward compared to last year. We’re closer to the front-running teams now, which makes this even more frustrating. But we’ll keep working. Tomorrow’s main qualifying session is the big one, and we’ll dig into the data to figure out what went wrong. The car has potential.”
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Tsunoda Shines Bright as Hadjar Cracks Under Pressure Tsunoda Shines Bright as Hadjar Cracks Under Pressure
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