Tsunoda hits the wall in Jeddah: simple error or design flaw?
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda saw his promising Friday run come to an end in Jeddah, after running off the track in the final minutes of the second free practice session. The mistake prompted a number of analyses, including that of a three-time IndyCar winner, pointing to a possible flaw in the wall's design.
On the fast urban track of Jeddah, Yuki Tsunoda displayed a solid level of performance from the first laps. During FP1, he even had the luxury of posting a time almost identical to Max Verstappen’s, before finishing sixth in FP2, just 0.3 seconds off the lead. The Red Bull driver seemed full of confidence, despite some difficulties getting his tires into the right operating window.
But in the very last minutes of the second session, everything changes. On a fuel load run, Tsunoda pushes a bit too hard in the last corner and hits the inside wall with his front left wheel. He then loses control of his car and ends his run in the outer barrier. Result: a broken steering and a very damaged car.
Tsunoda takes responsibility for the mistake: « I can’t complain »
Despite the frustration, the Japanese driver kept his cool: “I just oversteered and hit the wall with the inner wheel, which caused damage. After that, I had no control. My apologies to the team, as the pace was good.”
« The level of confidence was good. I really wanted it to end in a good way. But I’m the one responsible, so I can’t complain. » Tsunoda acknowledged that he had a good pace and that this mistake is unfortunate as he seemed well set for the weekend. But the incident mainly highlighted an unexpected technical point.
A poorly designed wall? The analysis of a seasoned pilot
The crash of Tsunoda did not escape the eye of Kyle Kirkwood, a three-time IndyCar winner, who analyzed the footage in detail. According to him, the very design of the wall hit could be the issue. On X (formerly Twitter), he writes: I want to point out that if you look closely, you can see that the corner is made up of flat walls about 10 feet long, with many sharp joints where they connect. Tsunoda hit exactly one of these joints. If it were a smooth wall, it probably wouldn’t have been an accident.
An analysis that is striking, especially on an urban circuit as fast as Jeddah, where the slightest imperfection can have serious consequences. This detail raises the question of safety and the level of finish of certain track features.
A free warning?
Fortunately, Tsunoda emerged unscathed and his team was able to repair the car for the rest of the weekend. But this incident once again highlights the limitations of certain modern circuits in terms of safety. At a time when F1 aims for technological excellence, the infrastructure must also be impeccable.
