Yuki Tsunoda delivered a surprise during the chaotic qualifying session in São Paulo. The Japanese driver not only held his ground as one after another driver spun off the track and into the barriers, but he also secured the third starting position. This is Tsunoda’s best qualifying result in his Formula 1 career, and a good opportunity to close the gap on his nearest competitor, Haas.
“It was very challenging, but I did enjoy it,” a smiling Tsunoda said immediately after the session. “We had a good pace right from the start. We made a few minor mistakes, but we also had some luck. As a team, we did well.”
Tsunoda did not expect to start from the second row for the first time in his career, even during the qualifying session. The Visa RB driver admits that he too almost ended up in the barriers. “This circuit is one of the most challenging (in Formula 1). If you have too much confidence and push beyond the limit, the consequences can be severe. We saw that again today,” Tsunoda explains. “I also had a big moment, but luckily I was far from the barriers. But it feels much better than yesterday, the car feels good. We also had a good pace in the rain, a good place to start the race.”
Haas
Tsunoda’s third starting position is also a good opportunity for Visa RB to score many points during the main race. The sister team of Red Bull is ten points behind Haas in seventh place in the constructors’ championship. Tsunoda therefore sees the race as a good opportunity to close in on the American racing team. “One hundred percent, we are just behind sixth place, behind Haas. We need to overtake, and this is the moment to seize the opportunities,” the driver concludes.
