Yuki Tsunoda has explained the reasoning behind his tactics at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that resulted in a five-second penalty for the Red Bull driver.
Playing the team game at the Yas Marina Circuit, Tsunoda was tasked with keeping Lando Norris behind after his first pitstop.
He snapped at his team on the radio that he knew the task awaiting him as the McLaren closed in, waiting to execute a block.
However, instead of attempting to slow Norris through the twisting final section, Tsunoda attempted to block him down the back straight.
Norris overtook the Red Bull with all four wheels off the track, while Tsunoda was awarded a five-second time penalty, a decision that he was unhappy with.
“I have to review back what happened there,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “I kind of have an idea why they applied the penalty.
“But at the same time, I have to really review back if it actually deserves a five-second penalty or not, because it cost my race massively.”
Tsunoda discusses attempt to slow Norris
Tsunoda walked through his radio message and hinted that he initially was not going to push as hard as he did.
“It was just keep feeding back consistently on the radio, I can tell from stress from them”, he revealed.
“I’m like, ‘Look, I know what to do, we talked about it, I’ll try my best to defend as much as I can’.
“So to me, there’s not any benefits that I let him go easily, so that’s it, I know what I need, I’ll try my best, but he just came back quick.”
He then revealed why he chose a straight to make his last stand, admitting the closing speed of the McLaren made his task more challenging.
“Well, I thought about it, but he was also quite far away, I think he managed to pass me in Turn 9,” he recalled.
“Because the gap was still like eight tenths, nine tenths, and he was closing out I guess five tenths per lap, so I thought I could hold on one more lap, but also he did well that he maximised the performance in Turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and closed the gap in one, so he did well, but I don’t think there’s much difference, even though I stayed behind massively.
Tsunoda labelled the decision to award a five-second penalty “very harsh”, as he reflected on an underwhelming end to his time at Red Bull.
“Yeah, I don’t feel like a problem, I just feel slower currently, I don’t know why, it feels like last year,” he said.
“Looking back, to be honest, I don’t like to use the word luck to be honest, much, but in the second half of the season especially, let’s say, my luck was nothing.
“There was a lot of things going on without my control, and I think multiple times I showed my pace, which is good.
“But even last year, last race, my second penalty was a bit tough, but at least I gave it all, and that’s it.”
READ MORE – Why Lando Norris avoided potential title-deciding penalty for off-track pass in Abu Dhabi
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