Yuki Tsunoda’s miss at the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix has left fans and pundits buzzing with frustration, as the young driver feels he was robbed of a golden opportunity to score vital points. After a promising streak of three top 10 finishes in his last five races, Tsunoda arrived at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez brimming with confidence, especially after receiving critical floor updates from Red Bull that had already propelled teammate Max Verstappen to success earlier this season.
In a dramatic qualifying session, Tsunoda showcased impressive speed, clocking in just three-tenths off Verstappen’s pace. However, luck was not on his side as he narrowly missed out on Q3. Thanks to Carlos Sainz’s five-place grid penalty, the Japanese driver found himself starting from a commendable 10th position in the 71-lap showdown.
The race got off to a blazing start for Tsunoda as he maneuvered his way past two competitors, expertly defending against Oscar Piastri until Lap 11. But disaster struck with a sluggish 12-second pit stop, obliterating his chances for a points finish and leaving him to cross the line in 11th. “Yeah, points were definitely within reach today, probably around P6 or P7,” Tsunoda lamented. “We just threw away those points due to issues I couldn’t control, which is very frustrating.”
Despite the setback, Tsunoda wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. He spotted a silver lining in the cloud, noting that his pace was comparable to Verstappen, who ultimately finished third. “I was not too far from Max. I was lapping pretty much the same,” he stated. “What I did today was strong, possibly one of the best long-run paces I’ve shown in Red Bull. It’s a shame I couldn’t turn that into a result.”
As the season winds down, Tsunoda remains fiercely motivated to secure his spot in Red Bull’s lineup for 2026. The team has yet to express any lack of confidence in him, and he is determined to leverage his recent performances to make a compelling case for his future. “I believe I’ve maximized what I can control, including my pace and starts,” he asserted. “The points were easily possible today. I hope Red Bull takes that into consideration, but it’s ultimately up to them. I’ll keep pushing in the areas I can control.”
With four races left in the season, Tsunoda is adamant about keeping his momentum alive. “I’m always motivated,” he declared, hinting at his relentless ambition to prove his worth as the F1 world watches closely. The stakes for Tsunoda have never been higher, and the pressure is mounting as the clock ticks down to the next race. Can he turn his frustrations into fuel for success? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the saga of Yuki Tsunoda is far from over.
