Yuki Tsunoda rued a “frustrating” Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix as a pitstop “miscommunication” denied him a much-needed points-scoring finish for Red Bull.
Tsunoda came into the main Grand Prix on Sunday off the back of a promising qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Japanese driver began the 44-lap race from seventh on the grid – his highest grid slot with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
That said, with interchangeable conditions prevalent, the Red Bull pit wall got it wrong with the timing of Tsunoda’s standalone pitstop.
Stopping for the slick tyres one lap too late meant that the 25-year-old lost a host of positions and eventually trailed home 13th at the chequered flag.
Tsunoda highlighted how a mistimed message from his side of the garage meant that he had already crossed the pit entry on the lap the team had intended him to stop.
“[It was] very frustrating,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week.
“It already started from a miscommunication, or I don’t know what to say more than that, to swap the tyres.
“They called me at a late moment, just after the pit entry. For one lap, this kind of long track is very decisive, and unfortunately, I lost that opportunity.
“I lost four positions, five positions, whatever, and I was stuck behind Pierre. I tried my best to overtake him, but unfortunately, I couldn’t.”
Why Tsunoda struggled to mount a comeback
But having lost several positions through that pitstop blunder, Tsunoda was not able to mount a charge back through the field to salvage a top-10 result.
“Unfortunately, there was no speed to overtake – I tried my best throughout the lap, but again the tyres were gone,” he conceded.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko concurred with his driver as he admitted that he expected the Honda-backed driver to have better pace in the dry conditions.
“Yes, there was a miscommunication, and then his speed was also not good,” he asserted.
“The pitstop wasn’t optimal – that’s where he lost the positions.
“We’ll need to clarify the exact reason by comparing notes with the engineers. Of course, going from P7 to P13 isn’t what we were hoping for.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen warns there will ‘never be classic wet races’ after F1 Belgian GP delay
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