Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda Faces Setback in Bahrain Grand Prix Practice
Red Bull Racing’s young talent, Yuki Tsunoda, faced a setback during the free practice sessions of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Helmut Marko, the team’s advisor, disclosed that Tsunoda’s lackluster performance was a result of experimental setup changes rather than a genuine lack of pace.
During FP2, Tsunoda finished in P18, a considerable 1.519 seconds behind the pace-setter Oscar Piastri. Marko assured the media that the team was testing different configurations on Tsunoda’s car, making his lap times non-representative of his true potential. He confidently stated, “He will be for sure faster tomorrow.”
Tsunoda, who recently moved up from the junior team to Red Bull Racing, has been adjusting to the RB21 slowly. Despite limited time behind the wheel, he remains optimistic about improving his performance throughout the weekend. Tsunoda expressed his confidence in understanding the car better and making necessary adjustments for a stronger showing in the upcoming sessions.
However, both Tsunoda and his teammate Max Verstappen faced brake issues under the Bahrain International Circuit’s floodlights. Marko acknowledged the problem, especially affecting Verstappen, but remained positive about resolving it promptly.
Verstappen, who clinched a dominant win in Japan, emphasized the team’s need to continuously improve the car’s performance. Although pleased with the recent victory, he acknowledged the team’s existing limitations and the necessity for further enhancements.
As Red Bull Racing aims to tackle technical challenges and optimize performance, all eyes are on Tsunoda and Verstappen to overcome obstacles and deliver strong results in the Bahrain Grand Prix.