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The current championship standings reveal that Red Bull Racing occupies third place, marking them as the sole team capable of interrupting McLaren’s early season dominance in the F1 World Championship. This was highlighted by Max Verstappen’s recent win at the Japanese Grand Prix. However, the season has not been as straightforward for the Milton Keynes team, which has faced challenges with the RB21, a car that has not delivered the anticipated performance.
The team’s objective was to simplify the RB20 design and broaden its operating window to enhance set-up options for both the team and the drivers. Nevertheless, the RB21 has presented complexities that have hindered performance, particularly affecting Yuki Tsunoda, who stepped in to replace the struggling Liam Lawson after only two races.
From his first laps at Suzuka, Tsunoda displayed promising signs, successfully moving away from the lower ranks that had ensnared Lawson in Australia and China without tangible improvements. While Tsunoda has shown a better grasp of certain RB21 characteristics, he still faces an ongoing adaptation process.
Red Bull’s appreciation for Tsunoda stems not only from his performance but also from the challenging context of adapting to a new environment alongside Verstappen. His primary aim is not to outpace Verstappen but to maintain a competitive distance to secure top-10 finishes and points—a feat he nearly achieved in Jeddah were it not for an early clash with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
In contrast to Red Bull’s offerings, the Racing Bulls exhibit lower performance peaks and have a more forgiving operating window, allowing drivers and engineers to push the VCARB 02 closer to its limits with greater ease.
Mistakes Arise from Unfamiliarity with the RB21
Tsunoda encountered difficulties during his final Q2 run in Japan, failing to improve his lap time. Similar challenges arose in Bahrain, where a misstep at Turn 10 proved costly, and in Saudi Arabia, an error exiting Turn 4 impacted his performance. These mistakes mirror Lawson’s struggles, who also failed to complete his qualifying attempts without errors in his time with the RB21, highlighting the demanding nature of the vehicle’s limits.
From the outset, Tsunoda was struck by the RB21’s sharply responsive front end, which diverges significantly from the characteristics of the Racing Bulls, necessitating a period of adjustment. In his first two race weekends, it became evident that Tsunoda and Verstappen were racing with different downforce configurations: Tsunoda opted for a higher load for better consistency, whereas Verstappen was adept at managing a more unloaded rear end, aiding his speed on straights.
Struggles Beyond Speed
Tsunoda stated, “In terms of confidence, I’m happy, considering I’ve only done a few races and it’s going to grow.” He emphasized the need to better understand the car’s dynamics, particularly in terms of tire temperature and set-up. “I don’t think I grasp even half of it yet, which are critical elements I am focusing on to improve as quickly as possible.”
Additionally, challenges with tire preparation and management are significant, especially in a period where tire sensitivity is heightened. This characteristic clashes with the RB21’s narrow operating window, which Verstappen has been able to exploit effectively.
Tsunoda noted, “Max senses more things in the car than I do, like for instance the tire temperature when you leave the garage. When temperatures drop from Q1 to Q3, Max adjusts accordingly. I haven’t fully adapted to this yet, possibly because I’m not entirely relaxed while driving.”
Building New Relationships
He underlined the importance of detail in the current regulations that render tires particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, revealing how minor timing discrepancies can significantly affect performance. Tsunoda observed that some of these elements require both confidence in the car and a strong rapport with his engineer, akin to the successful Verstappen-Lambiase dynamic.
Reflecting on previous races, Tsunoda expressed the importance of developing a solid working relationship with his new track engineer at Red Bull, which necessitates time. He humorously remarked, “It’s part of the learning process. We need to streamline our operations—tyre warm-ups, steering wheel switches—all of it has been somewhat chaotic.”
To enhance Tsunoda’s transition, Red Bull arranged intensive simulator sessions and on-track training with an RB19, allowing him to accumulate valuable experience outside the typical race weekend pressures.
Source
www.motorsport.com