Yuki Tsunoda was shocked by his underperformance in Free Apply 2 for System 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with ‘one of many worst gaps’ to Pink Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.
Tsunoda needed to sit out FP1 at Yas Marina as incoming Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad – the principle motive why the Japanese racer finds himself with no seat for 2026 – drove his automotive, permitting Pink Bull to fulfil the rules relating to necessary younger driver operating on grand prix weekends.
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Tsunoda then took a lowly seventeenth place within the night session, together with his 1m24.303s quickest time 0.857s slower than Verstappen’s benchmark.
“I did not anticipate it to be like this difficult, to be trustworthy, nevertheless it’s too far-off,” he commented. “I do not know what is going on on, to be trustworthy. I’ve to see why and what is going on on. However the hole appears one of many worst within the season. So, let’s have a look at.”
Yuki Tsunoda, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Requested whether or not the RB21 was okay or not very snug to him, Tsunoda stated: “Did not really feel a lot snug, let’s be trustworthy, within the automotive. I stored sliding round. I’ve to search out out why, what’s inflicting this subject. But it surely’s not likely good.”
Pink Bull’s outgoing driver, who will tackle a check and reserve function for 2026, now not has a lot at stake, aside from doubtlessly bettering on his present fifteenth place within the drivers’ standings (he might mathematically end between tenth and nineteenth) or serving to the staff to second place within the constructors’ championship, the place its deficit to Mercedes is 33 factors.
Even when each Silver Arrows retired whereas Verstappen received, this may require Tsunoda to complete the race in sixth on the very worst – one thing he has executed simply as soon as this season, with exactly sixth in Baku.
Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP – Apply
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in images
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