It has been a tricky few weeks for Yuki Tsunoda.
However because of a robust efficiency Saturday on the Components 1 Singapore Grand Prix, he is able to erase these bitter reminiscences and ship a factors end for Visa Money App RB F1 Crew.
Tsunoda retired from every of the previous two races, first on the Italian Grand Prix after contact with Nico Hülkenberg, after which early within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following an opening-lap incident with Lance Stroll. However Saturday evening on the streets at Marina Bay, Tsunoda rocketed into Q3 and is about to start out eighth within the Singapore Grand Prix.
Whereas he expressed some frustration that his run in Q3 was not “excellent,” after the outcomes during the last two race weekends, Tsunoda will definitely take a top-ten begin.
“It’s been some time since we had been in Q3, and right this moment lastly we made it! We had been ready for this second, so nicely completed and because of the Crew,” mentioned Tsunoda within the group’s post-qualifying report. “Clearly, as a driver, you’re all the time aiming for an ideal qualifying, and sadly, the final run was a bit messy. We had been tight on time through the warm-up lap, so we needed to rush, which compromised our final push lap a bit.
Initially, I used to be a bit annoyed after I crossed the end line, however contemplating our efficiency in the previous couple of races, this can be a large achievement for us,” continued Tsunoda. “It gained’t be straightforward tomorrow, we’ll attempt to catch the Haas in entrance of us however on the similar time, we’ll have to have a look at some quick vehicles behind us. We’ll do as a lot as we will to try to rating factors.”
The temper is way totally different on the opposite facet of the storage.
Daniel Ricciardo, beneath growing strain to maintain his spot in Components 1 and dealing with rumors of being changed forward of the USA Grand Prix in October, was eradicated in Q1. His hope of placing the RB01 “on the rostrum,” which he talked about throughout media day Thursday, appears a good distance off.
“Immediately wasn’t good,” began Ricciardo. “We actually struggled on the softs, each set we used right this moment, we weren’t aggressive. Our tempo was good yesterday, which is why we didn’t change a lot on the automobile in a single day.
“In FP3, we carried out nicely on the medium. Nonetheless, it was rather a lot tougher for us to get essentially the most out of the delicate tire, and we didn’t discover a resolution in qualifying,” continued Ricciardo. “There was solely a tenth between us and Q2, however we anticipated extra primarily based on yesterday’s observe.”
It’s all to play for Sunday evening in Singapore for VCARB. Tsunoda is able to carry dwelling some factors, whereas Ricciardo has his again in opposition to the proverbial wall, driving for his F1 future whereas beginning in the back of the sector.
