It has been a troublesome few weeks for Yuki Tsunoda.
However due to a powerful efficiency Saturday on the System 1 Singapore Grand Prix, he is able to erase these bitter reminiscences and ship a factors end for Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce.
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 night time on the streets at Marina Bay, Tsunoda rocketed into Q3 and is about to begin 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 have been in Q3, and as we speak lastly we made it! We have been ready for this second, so effectively finished and due to the Workforce,” 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 have been tight on time throughout 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 few races, it is a huge achievement for us,” continued Tsunoda. “It received’t be simple tomorrow, we’ll attempt to catch the Haas in entrance of us however on the similar time, we’ll have to take a look at some quick automobiles behind us. We’ll do as a lot as we are able to to try to rating factors.”
The temper is way completely different on the opposite facet of the storage.
Daniel Ricciardo, beneath rising stress to maintain his spot in System 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.
“In the present day wasn’t good,” began Ricciardo. “We actually struggled on the softs, each set we used as we speak, we weren’t aggressive. Our tempo was good yesterday, which is why we didn’t change a lot on the automotive in a single day.
“In FP3, we carried out effectively on the medium. Nonetheless, it was so much more durable for us to get probably 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 based mostly on yesterday’s follow.”
It’s all to play for Sunday night time in Singapore for VCARB. Tsunoda is able to deliver residence some factors, whereas Ricciardo has his again towards the proverbial wall, driving for his F1 future whereas beginning behind the sphere.
