Tsunoda’s Austrian GP Struggles Result in Apology to Red Bull
Austrian Grand Prix Summary:
Yuki Tsunoda issued a public apology to Red Bull Racing following a disappointing performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, culminating in a last-place finish. The Japanese driver incurred a 10-second penalty after crashing into Franco Colapinto of Alpine during the race.
Key Incident:
Tsunoda acknowledged his responsibility for the collision: “The situation I was in, I think, was quite a poor move. I must send apologies to the team for how I ended up,” he stated to Motorsport.com.
Performance Analysis:
Beyond the mishap with Colapinto, Tsunoda noted ongoing struggles with pace, expressing confusion over the significant performance gap between him and teammate Max Verstappen. He commented, “I’m not sure what I’m doing completely wrong… the pace delta between the level I have to be in is massive.” Despite reviewing data, he stated, “it’s really hard to find in terms of driving style difference with Max.”
Tire Management Challenges:
Tsunoda faced difficulties in tire management throughout the race. He reported that, particularly in the early laps, the car felt strong but deteriorated quickly: “Whatever I do, it’s melting every lap… it’s hard to find the reasons.”
Team Context:
This race marked an especially troublesome day for Red Bull, with Verstappen retiring on lap 1 after colliding with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The outcome resulted in Red Bull’s first pointless finish in 77 races, deepening the challenges Tsunoda faces as he seeks to establish himself after replacing Liam Lawson earlier this season.
Despite calls for support, Tsunoda affirmed his backing from Red Bull, emphasizing a collective commitment to overcoming performance issues. “I’m working hard to find the reasons for what’s causing the issue,” he concluded.
