In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda is set to hit the track at the Imola Grand Prix with a completely revamped RB21. The Formula One world was left in shock after a horrific crash during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix qualifying session left Tsunoda’s car in shambles. The team has spared no expense in rebuilding his car, with even the survival cell being replaced.
The incident at Turn 6 saw Tsunoda lose control of his Red Bull, sending him careening through the gravel and into the tire barrier, resulting in a dramatic flip before landing back on the track. Miraculously, Tsunoda emerged unscathed from the wreckage, but the same could not be said for his car.
The FIA has confirmed that the rebuild of Tsunoda’s RB21 involved a myriad of components, including a new survival cell and various parts of different specifications. As a result, Tsunoda will be forced to start the Imola race from the pit lane as per the Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Not stopping there, the extensive list of replacements also included the floor, engine parts such as the internal combustion, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store, and control electronics, as well as the exhaust system. The sheer magnitude of the damage incurred in the crash has sent shockwaves through the Red Bull team, with Helmut Marko expressing concerns about the impact on their spare parts inventory for the upcoming races.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda remained apologetic for the added workload on his mechanics and acknowledged his mistake in pushing too hard during qualifying. With the Imola Grand Prix marking just the beginning of a triple-header that includes Monaco, the pressure is on for Red Bull to regroup and bounce back from this adversity. As the racing world holds its breath, all eyes will be on Tsunoda and his rebuilt RB21 as they take on the challenges that lie ahead.
