Powerful weekends at Interlagos are nothing new in Formulation 1. However Yuki Tsunoda managed to run into much more bother than anticipated, on the worst potential time for a driver preventing to safe his Purple Bull future.
What ought to have been a routine race spiraled into a significant headache, and Tsunoda left Brazil with extra uncertainty than readability, particularly since he wasn’t even conscious of the second that triggered the controversy.
The Clip That Modified All the things for Yuki Tsunoda in Brazil
The race had simply settled after the protection automobile when issues fell aside for Tsunoda. Chasing Colapinto into Ferradura, he braked a bit too late and tapped Stroll’s Aston Martin whereas making an attempt to keep away from the Alpine, incomes a fast ten-second penalty from the stewards. Tsunoda admitted afterward that he didn’t even notice there had been contact and solely understood what occurred as soon as he noticed the replay.
Purple Bull tried to care for the penalty at his following cease, however they didn’t execute it correctly, which handed Tsunoda an additional ten-second penalty. After that, he was locked within the again and got here house on the seventeenth, capping off a weekend that simply stored going unsuitable.
“To be trustworthy, I didn’t even discover the contact,” he mentioned after the race. “I don’t know, I simply need to evaluation what’s occurred, to be trustworthy.”
He admitted later that the tempo felt higher in clear air, however the injury had already been completed: “Disgrace in regards to the contact, however I believe the tempo was okay, particularly within the final stint. I used to be utterly out of place, so… Disgrace in regards to the penalties and additional pitstop that was not in my management. For me, this weekend, nothing labored in any respect.”
Workforce principal Laurent Mekies additionally admitted, “It’s a bit unlucky, he misplaced numerous time within the contact, received the additional 10-second penalty, then we made a mistake on our facet and we received one other 10-second additional penalty. It’s a disgrace it doesn’t appear to be going our manner. His final stint in clear air is powerful…. We will solely pocket the final sturdy stint in free air that he has completed.”
Liam Lawson Steps Up on the Worst Time for Tsunoda
The strain on Tsunoda grew even heavier as a result of Liam Lawson had a robust weekend on the identical monitor, because the New Zealander began seventh and completed there with a dangerous one-stop technique and held his floor in a good midfield.
His teammate, Isack Hadjar, additionally completed within the factors, which helped Racing Bulls keep forward of Haas within the standings. The 2 even bumped wheels on the ultimate lap, however each vehicles stayed below management, and the crew walked away with some helpful factors.
Nevertheless, the extra essential situation is Lawson’s rising case for a long-term Purple Bull seat as he’s in a direct battle with Tsunoda and junior driver Arvid Lindblad for the ultimate place in 2026. No determination has been introduced but, and Purple Bull is thought for taking its time with strikes like this.
Helmut Marko just lately praised Hadjar’s improvement and famous Lawson’s inconsistency, but in addition highlighted Tsunoda’s sturdy race tempo. His feedback added extra uncertainty fairly than readability, which is typical when the Austrian outfit is weighing main selections.
The ultimate months of the season will resolve who stays and who appears to be like elsewhere. Lawson’s regular push in Brazil solely makes the scenario tougher for Tsunoda going forward.
