Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko blasted RB’s Yuki Tsunoda for an “unstable” crash during qualifying for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Tsunoda had fared well throughout practice for RB, finishing third in FP1 and FP2, then seventh in FP3.
With that in mind, the Japanese driver would have hoped for a Q3 top-10 shootout appearance on Saturday, but that was not to be.
A spin at Turn 12 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit cost Tsunoda dearly, dropping him to 11th when his pace indicated seventh was on the cards.
“He is still too unstable,” a scathing Marko told 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.”
Tsunoda’s spin carried him into the Turn 12 barriers, damaging his upgraded RB and causing Marko to be even more irate.
“He has a new floor, just like Lawson and I don’t know if they have any spare parts,” Marko said.
“If you had to rebuild, it would be a relegation to the back row. So it was a totally unnecessary crash.”
Yuki Tsunoda searching for answers after Mexico qualifying mishap
Tsundoa was still searching for answers post-qualifying when speaking to select media including Motorsport Week.
The Japanese driver explained that he “had a front lock-up initially and lost a lot of control.
“So having a front lock-up was already game over and there was no way I could make the corner.
“It’s strange, I didn’t really push hard there, and throughout the week, I didn’t have any front lock up in any lap in that corner.
“So I got surprised about that, but nonetheless, it’s a shame not to be able to maximise this opportunity.”
With overtaking tough around the Mexico City circuit, Tsunoda is aware strategy will be relied upon to vault him into the points on Sunday.
Still, after Lawson went from 19th to ninth in the United States GP, Tsunoda is hopeful.
“Strategy here won’t be easy, especially in traffic and car temperature but I do as much as I can,” Tsunoda said.
“I think the car pace is still there so hopefully I can maximise that with clean air.
“In the previous race my team-mate went from last to the points so anything could happen.”
The Japanese driver, locked in a three-way fight for the seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year – will be hopeful he can turn things around in Mexico on Sunday.
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