Yuki Tsunoda Laments Gust of Wind That Cost Him Higher Qualifying Spot for Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix
Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda was left rueing a gust of wind that he believes prevented him from qualifying higher than eighth place for the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that marks the ninth round of the Formula 1 calendar. Earlier on Friday, his team, RB, announced that it had activated an option to retain Tsunoda for the remainder of the season, a decision made in light of his impressive start to the term, which has seen him score points in five races.
Tsunoda’s pace was evident throughout the qualifying session, as he advanced through Q1 in second place and then finished fourth in Q2. However, a momentary loss of control on the exit of Turn 2 on his final lap in the top-10 shootout hindered his prospects, ultimately relegating him to eighth place, three positions behind his RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
“A lot was on the table, I would say. I got a bit of an unfortunate gust from behind at Turn Two, and I lost the car completely, so I lost a lap time there.”
He added, “Especially looking at Q1 and Q2, I was pretty consistent and I was in the top five. And actually considering my pretty bad lap, I mean I ended up in P8, so yeah, obviously there was a mixed feeling.”
Despite the disappointment, Tsunoda was pleased with the team’s overall performance, which saw both RB cars finish in the top 10 for the first time this season. He praised Ricciardo’s ability to overcome his recent struggles and secure a top-five starting spot, saying, “Yeah, I mean, Daniel was performing well since free practice one. He’s experienced, so he knows how to deal with this kind of pressure.”
With both cars well-placed on the Formula 1 standings, Tsunoda is optimistic about the team’s chances in the race, stating, “So in the end, now we can play around a lot of strategy for tomorrow. So I think it’s gonna be a fun day hopefully for us.”
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