Red Bull Issues 'Shocking' Verdict on Yuki Tsunoda's Singapore GP Start

Red Bull's team principal Laurent Mekies candidly described Yuki Tsunoda's opening lap at the Singapore Grand Prix as 'certainly shocking.' Despite a strong performance in Azerbaijan, Tsunoda's weekend in Singapore was marred by a poor qualifying session and a disastrous start, costing the team valuable points and raising questions about consistency.

Why it matters:

Yuki Tsunoda's performance is under increasing scrutiny, particularly as Red Bull evaluates its driver lineup for the future. Consistency is key for any driver hoping to secure a long-term future in Formula 1, and repeated setbacks like those in Singapore could jeopardize his position within the Red Bull family. For the team, missed opportunities for points directly impact their Constructors' Championship standing.

The details:

• Qualifying Woes: Tsunoda failed to progress past Q2, starting 13th on the grid. This marks his tenth time this season starting outside the top half of the field, highlighting a pattern of inconsistent Saturday performances.
• Mekies' Assessment of Friday: While Saturday and Sunday were challenging, Mekies noted that Tsunoda's work on Friday was 'at the right level,' suggesting potential for better performance that wasn't realized later in the weekend.
• 'Shocking' Start: The most critical moment came on Sunday's opening lap, where Tsunoda dropped significantly, falling to 18th position.
• Recovery Pace: Despite the initial setback, Tsunoda demonstrated strong race pace, recovering several positions to finish 12th or 11th (depending on final classification changes), indicating underlying speed.
• Missed Points: Mekies explicitly stated that the poor qualifying and opening lap 'cost us the weekend and a few points,' underscoring the direct impact on the team's championship aspirations.

What's next:

Red Bull has committed to working with Tsunoda to address his inconsistencies, particularly in qualifying and race starts. As the season progresses, Tsunoda will need to demonstrate significant improvements in these areas to prove his capability as a consistent points-scorer. His ability to translate strong practice sessions and flashes of race pace into complete, clean weekends will be crucial for his Formula 1 career.

Between the lines:

While Mekies acknowledged Tsunoda's strong recovery pace, the emphasis on the 'shocking' start and 'poor Saturday' suggests that raw speed alone isn't enough. The pressure is mounting on Tsunoda to deliver more complete weekends, free from critical errors that cost the team points. This evaluation comes at a pivotal time, with many eyes on the Red Bull junior program and its potential future F1 talents.