Red Bull Apologizes for Controversial Tsunoda Qualifying Incident

Yuki Tsunoda expressed his shock after facing elimination in the first stage of the sprint qualifying at the United States Grand Prix. Despite Red Bull Formula 1’s team principal Laurent Mekies issuing an apology, the issue was part of a broader set of challenges the team faced.

Events from the US Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying

During the qualifying, Tsunoda completed only one flying lap, placing him in 18th position. After his first lap, he was 14th in the ranking but was unable to start a final flying lap due to timing issues. Other drivers, including Ollie Bearman, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto, also faced similar fates.

Red Bull’s Apology

• Mekies admitted, “We got it wrong, we apologise to Yuki.”
• The team underestimated the time needed for Tsunoda to return to the track, leading to his missed opportunity.

The strategy involved a choice between allowing Tsunoda to cool down on track or better cooling him in the garage. Unfortunately, only two drivers managed to make it back out in time, resulting in a failure to qualify.

Challenges Faced by Tsunoda

Tsunoda’s difficulties went beyond just timing. He struggled with pace during his initial run, finishing 1.119 seconds behind his teammate, Max Verstappen. Tsunoda had previously shown strength during free practice on hard-compound Pirellis but faltered on softer tires.

Impact of Strategy and Conditions

• While on mandatory medium tires in SQ1, Tsunoda dealt with a tailwind that negatively affected his lap times.
• He used an older-specification front wing compared to Verstappen, which may have contributed to his performance issues.

Red Bull’s strategic decision to bring Tsunoda into the pits rather than keeping him on the track was a significant factor. The pit stop took approximately 2 minutes and 8 seconds, which included refueling efforts. During this period, he lost precious time as other drivers created a long queue at the exit.

Timing Confusion and Frustration

Tsunoda himself acknowledged the timing problems, stating, “The timing of the garage exit was not even close.” His frustration stemmed from the fact that his chances were beyond his control, emphasizing the team’s role in the mismanagement of timing.

Ultimately, Red Bull’s strategic choices and Tsunoda’s performance challenges led to an unfortunate elimination. Moving forward, both Tsunoda and the team will need to reassess their approach to qualifying to avoid similar pitfalls in future races.