Importance Score: 36 / 100 🔵
Yuki Tsunoda Wrecks Car, Halting Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Yuki Tsunoda triggered a red flag during the second free practice session (FP2) of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a significant crash. The Formula 1 driver swiftly communicated that he was uninjured via team radio following the incident. Tsunoda, pushing hard on soft tyres, clipped the inside barrier approaching the final corner. This contact resulted in damage to the left-front axle, causing a loss of steering control and sending his car into the outside wall for a secondary, heavy impact.
Driver Declares “Okay” After Jeddah Crash
Immediately following the collision, the 24-year-old driver reported “okay” to his team and issued an apology to his engineers. The accident scattered debris across the Jeddah Corniche Circuit track, necessitating the deployment of a red flag by race marshals. The FP2 session was temporarily suspended and eventually resumed with just over a minute remaining.
Tsunoda Explains Crash Incident
Addressing the media, Tsunoda attributed the mishap to driver error. “I simply turned in too sharply and impacted the interior wall, which caused damage. Subsequently, I lost control of the car. I must apologise to the team. Our pace appeared promising, so this incident is regrettable,” he stated.
Confidence Remains Despite Setback
When questioned about his confidence level for the Saudi Arabian GP weekend, Tsunoda remarked, “My confidence level is still quite good. My last soft-tyre run was somewhat affected by warm-up procedures and other factors, but overall, it has been satisfactory. Regrettably, I had limited time for long runs due to the incident I caused myself, so I cannot complain. Naturally, I would have preferred to conclude the session in a more positive manner.”
Prior Optimism Before Practice Mishap
This incident marks a setback for Tsunoda, who arrived at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit with considerable optimism. The driver, born in Kanagawa, had demonstrated impressive pace relative to his teammate in Bahrain during the previous race, securing a P9 finish and his first points for the Red Bull affiliated team.
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Aspirations to Compete with Top Performers
Tsunoda had previously attracted attention with comments suggesting he could challenge Max Verstappen’s performance given further adaptation to his new машине, the RB21. “This is my first experience driving a completely different car. Having spent the past four years exclusively with VCARB, this marks my initial foray into a different team’s machinery,” he elaborated.
“I am attempting to leverage this new environment, and I believe that by unlocking certain aspects, I could potentially rival [Verstappen’s] performance level. I recognise that I cannot immediately match him, so my focus is on establishing a solid foundation and awaiting the opportune moment to reach that level,” Tsunoda concluded.
High Benchmark Set by Teammate
Even replicating Verstappen’s performance would constitute a significant accomplishment in Tsunoda’s inaugural season with the team. Notably, previous teammates Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez were consistently outpaced by the reigning world champion, suffering considerable damage to their reputations as a consequence.