The Singapore Grand Prix noticed one Pink Bull star do potential harm to his probabilities of preserving his place on the Method 1 grid with what Laurent Mekies described as a ‘surprising’ begin to the race
Pink Bull chief Laurent Mekies branded Yuki Tsunoda’s begin on the Singapore Grand Prix as “surprising”, while the Japanese driver admitted it was the “worst begin” of his life. The 25-year-old crossed the road on the Marina Bay Avenue Circuit in twelfth place, trailing Racing Bulls rising star Isack Hadjar, who was battling an influence unit downside that was costing him four-tenths of a second every lap.
Staff-mate Max Verstappen claimed second spot, simply behind winner George Russell. These figures paint a worrying image for Tsunoda, who’s combating to ensure his future on the Method 1 grid however struggling for kind regardless of the scenario.
Pink Bull are nonetheless deliberating over their driver line-up however, with Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad all competing with the Japanese racer for 3 accessible seats, there’s minimal margin for errors between now and the season’s conclusion.
And staff principal Mekies was hardly complimentary of Tsunoda as he assessed his driver’s efficiency in Singapore. “Yeah, you are proper, let me say it was not a very good Saturday for Yuki,” the Frenchman mentioned.
“I feel, actually, on Friday, personally, I used to be glad with the work he has carried out on Friday. It was not wanting spectacular on web page one, however taking a look at each single lap, I feel it was on the proper stage on Friday, then Saturday was poor – we have to work with him to know what derailed it.”
Referring to a dreadful opening lap that dropped Tsunoda again to 18th within the working order, Mekies added: “Immediately, the primary lap was actually surprising. However from that time onward, I feel he has carried out a really first rate race. I feel he got here again from P18 to P12 or P11, with a really first rate tempo. So we had a really poor Saturday, it is costing us the weekend and some factors, and we’ll work with him to enhance collectively.”
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Tsunoda didn’t dispute Mekies’ stern analysis of his race begin, as a substitute admitting that his efficiency was not the place it wanted to be. He mentioned: “It undoubtedly was the worst begin or the primary lap ever in my life.
“I am unable to nonetheless consider what occurred within the first lap. Each place I attempted to go, each nook within the first lap, I used to be actually lined or blocked by somebody.
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“I simply did not have any area to go. I misplaced a lot place within the first lap. It was undoubtedly the worst begin ever. I do not know what I ought to have carried out there. I am certain there’s one thing I may have carried out higher.
“That, for certain, made my life very arduous afterwards. To be sincere, the tempo was probably the greatest I’ve had in my Pink Bull profession thus far. It is a disgrace what I had there.”
