Tsunoda Denies FP1 Incident Caused Sprint Qualifying Struggles

Yuki Tsunoda has dismissed claims that his limited running in the Brazilian Grand Prix's sole Free Practice 1 session contributed to his surprisingly poor performance in sprint qualifying. The Japanese driver, currently battling for his Formula 1 future, found himself starting 19th after what he described as a "mysterious" lack of pace.

Why it matters:

Yuki Tsunoda is fighting to secure his seat with the Red Bull family, making every session crucial. A strong performance in Brazil, particularly in the sprint events, would have significantly bolstered his case. His struggle for pace, especially when unexplainable, raises concerns about his ability to consistently extract performance under pressure, which is vital for securing a future in F1.

The Details:

• FP1 Incident: Tsunoda spun at Turn 5 during the single Free Practice 1 session at Interlagos, causing minor damage and reducing his valuable track time. Despite this, he claimed it didn't significantly impact his preparation, stating he completed enough short and long runs.
• Sprint Qualifying Performance: Despite his efforts to rebound, Tsunoda could only manage the 19th fastest lap in sprint qualifying, outpacing only Carlos Sainz who will start alongside him at the back of the grid.
• "Mysterious" Lack of Grip: When questioned about the impact of his FP1 shunt, Tsunoda explicitly denied it was the cause of his early qualifying exit. He described his struggle as a "mysterious" overall lack of grip, unable to pinpoint why his lap times were so slow given what he felt was a decent lap.
• Weather Forecast: Saturday's on-track action is expected to be significantly affected by heavy rainfall and strong winds, which could introduce an unpredictable element to the sprint race and subsequent qualifying for the main Grand Prix.
• Focus on Pace: Tsunoda stated he is not concerned with the mixed weather conditions, emphasizing that his priority is to understand and unlock more pace from his car. He reiterated his confusion over the car's performance issues.

What's next:

With Saturday's events potentially being rain-affected, Tsunoda faces a challenging but possibly opportunistic scenario. Mixed conditions often shuffle the grid and could provide him a chance to recover from his poor sprint qualifying result, provided he can quickly adapt and find the elusive pace he lacked. Unlocking the car's potential will be key to demonstrating his worth and securing his F1 future.