Yuki Tsunoda takes responsibility for his mistakes after a difficult weekend in Austria
Without a single point in Austria, Yuki Tsunoda admitted at a press conference in Silverstone on Thursday that his difficulties were entirely his own fault. A lucid self-criticism, marked by mistakes he considers avoidable.
The second seat at Red Bull is once again causing trouble. After Gasly, Albon, Pérez, and Lawson, a new driver is experiencing a very difficult period: Yuki Tsunoda. Strong at Racing Bulls, the Japanese driver admitted that he has not been able to recover his form since joining the Austrian team, and has just gone four consecutive Grand Prix without scoring points.
If he hoped to regain confidence on his team’s home ground, the race held at the Spielberg circuit turned into a real nightmare for the former Racing Bulls driver. Eliminated in Q1, the Japanese driver failed to bounce back during the race, making several mistakes, notably during a risky overtaking attempt on Franco Colapinto at turn 4. The two drivers made contact, and the Argentine spun, resulting in a ten-second penalty for the Red Bull driver, deemed responsible for the incident. On Thursday, during the traditional pre-weekend press conference, he sought to clarify the situation, stating that he was solely responsible for the difficulties he is encountering.
Tsunoda considers himself solely responsible for his poor results
« The problem during the race was me », analyzed the Japanese driver, who took the opportunity to reflect on his failed overtaking maneuver on Franco Colapinto. « The overtaking… I tried to make the move when I probably could have waited one more lap. It was somewhat unnecessary to push so hard in that situation. So, my approach during the race was not ideal. »
Despite this incident, the Japanese driver mainly acknowledges his lack of performance in the race compared to his teammate. « The pace itself? Honestly, after changing the front wing and everything, it’s not really a good reference. But it’s still an area I’m working very hard on. Especially the long stints: that’s what troubles me. We’ve been working very hard these past few days to see how we can improve. We’re going to try things I hadn’t considered before. »
The Japanese maintains the support of his team.
Performances that inevitably fuel some rumors, while on the contrary, the two Racing Bulls drivers are achieving convincing results. However, the Japanese driver assures that he still fully enjoys the team’s confidence, especially from Helmut Marko. The Austrian has also stated that another driver change this year no longer makes sense and that it’s now necessary to stabilize Yuki within Red Bull.
« I clearly feel their support, especially lately, more than ever, from Christian and Helmut. I went to the south of the UK with a Red Bull trainer to “reset,” and it was their initiative, explained Tsunoda. « They simply wanted me to get some fresh air. It really helped me get back into the rhythm. We will also try things that I have never tried before, and they give me a freedom that others probably wouldn’t allow in a typical situation. »
Regarding Helmut Marko, the Japanese appreciates the support of the Austrian, explaining that despite the difficulties encountered, he continues to support him. He didn’t like my race in Austria, but he still wants to help me. He still believes in my talent and my speed. Now it’s up to me to prove it on the track. Helmut is someone direct. When a race goes badly, he tells me what went wrong. It’s a form of pressure he imposes on me, but sometimes it pushes me to surpass myself. That’s how he has operated since my junior years. I am grateful for the support he gives me.
Speed always present in the Japanese.
The former F2 driver with Carlin is aware of the difficulties he faces, particularly during races, but has full confidence in his ability to bounce back quickly. « I think I am going in the right direction, especially on the short stints. I missed Q1 in Austria, but the gap was very small. And in terms of the overall package, I know that some improvements are planned this year compared to Max. Once I have the complete package, I am confident in my ability to reach the expected level. » The Japanese driver also indicated that he is still struggling to understand how the Red Bull works, which forces him to adapt his driving style.
« That’s what I’m working on. The long stints are where I still struggle, but I will find a solution. I’ve identified some driving style adjustments to test, which I’ve never tried since the beginning of my F1 career. It’s a learning process. It’s true that when the conditions change in each session, I take a bit more time to adapt compared to what I had at VCARB. There, I knew exactly how the car would react, I could attack right away. At Red Bull, I have to build my rhythm, which is the right approach for me. It’s not a bad strategy, but it just takes a little more time. I don’t know if it will take the whole season, but at least I’m progressing in the right direction. »
The Red Bull driver will have the opportunity to bounce back this week at Silverstone. However, the Japanese driver will have to wait a few hours this Friday, as he will be replaced by young Arvid Lindblad, a member of the Red Bull academy, during the first practice session.
