Red Bull’s Helmut Marko didn’t hold back after Yuki Tsunoda’s costly crash in Mexico GP qualifying, blasting the Japanese driver for an “unstable” performance that shattered hopes of a top-10 shootout. After finishing strong in practice sessions, with a third-place showing in FP1 and FP2, Tsunoda seemed poised for a Q3 appearance. But a miscalculated spin at Turn 12 dropped him to 11th, leaving the Red Bull Advisor visibly frustrated.
“He is still too unstable,” Marko remarked to Sky Sports Germany. “Yuki also had a spin in Austin and now this crash in qualifying. We thought he was stabilised, but apparently he’s not. Now, when the pressure comes off [Liam] Lawson, it’s even more noticeable.” The spin damaged Tsunoda’s upgraded RB car, raising concerns about the availability of spare parts. “If you had to rebuild, it would mean relegation to the back row. So it was a totally unnecessary crash,” Marko fumed.
Tsunoda explained that he suffered a front lock-up entering Turn 12, which rendered any attempt to make the corner futile. “It’s strange, I didn’t really push hard there, and throughout the week, I didn’t have any front lock-up in that corner,” Tsunoda told media. “So I got surprised about that, but nonetheless, it’s a shame not to be able to maximise this opportunity.”
With limited overtaking opportunities on the Mexico City circuit, Tsunoda knows strategy will be crucial to claw back points. Drawing inspiration from Lawson’s 19th-to-ninth finish in Austin, Tsunoda remains cautiously optimistic. “Strategy here won’t be easy, especially in traffic and car temperature,” he noted, adding, “I think the car pace is still there, so hopefully I can maximise that with clean air.”
Locked in a three-way fight for a coveted Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, Tsunoda’s performance on Sunday could be pivotal. But after a bruising crash and Marko’s critical comments, he’ll need to deliver a clean, resilient drive to keep his aspirations alive.
