(Motorsport-Total.com) – Yuki Tsunoda is allowed to take the wheel for Racing Bulls once again at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, as Isack Hadjar continues to be absent and is replaced at Red Bull by Liam Lawson. Unlike two weeks ago, when Tsunoda received the news unexpectedly, this renewed deployment was not unexpected.
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And yet, the Racing Bulls driver did not find it quite as easy as hoped on Friday in Monza. “It is definitely a struggle, especially in the first free practice, but that was more due to many things that were overall quite chaotic,” summarizes the Japanese driver, who ultimately finished in twelfth place.
The biggest challenge for Tsunoda, however, is the new Formula 1 regulations, which require some adjustments compared to last year: The previous DRS system was replaced this year by the so-called “Straight Mode” (SM).
And the substitute driver finds this particularly difficult. “We have more activation points for the DRS equivalent than last year,” Tsunoda recalls. “And I constantly forget to use this system before turn 11. I thought to myself: ‘Oh, why am I losing so much lap time?’ – until I realized: ‘Oh yes, I’m not even using the system.'”
Tsunoda admits: “It definitely gives me a hard time”
Monza has four SM zones this year, which must be used with the new cars to reduce air resistance and prevent energy from running out on the long straights. Unlike Zandvoort, where Tsunoda made a strong impression, Monza is considered an “energy-poor” track.
“Such things definitely give me a hard time,” the Japanese admitted on Friday. “There are certain challenges in the transition from last year to this year.” At least: In the second free practice, Tsunoda used the system at all allowed points and proved surprisingly competitive.
“Overall, the second practice went together a bit better,” the Racing Bulls driver was pleased, who finished tenth in the second session, just behind Max Verstappen. “The result was decent, also because we now know where we can still improve.”
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“Confidence in the car is not huge yet”
“I think Arvid already feels more comfortable in the car, so there is still room for me to improve.” However, teammate Arvid Lindblad was only about a tenth of a second faster than Tsunoda on Friday. “Confidence in the car is not huge yet, not at 100 percent; so I have to gradually extract more performance.”
Now the focus is on qualifying. “It will be heated,” says the Japanese with a grin. That Tsunoda was immediately fast both in Zandvoort and Monza speaks, of course, for his adaptability but also for how accessible the Racing Bulls car is.
The VCARB 03 seems to be a well-balanced car, where it is relatively easy to find a working setup. “It is still too early for a judgment, as it is only the second race and I do not know exactly how it compares to other cars,” says the 26-year-old.
Racing Bulls “less moody” than Red Bull last year
“But I have definitely received a lot of support from the team, and the car is – I believe – less ‘moody’ than what I experienced last year.” Back then, Tsunoda fought alongside Verstappen to keep up with his teammate.
Speaking of teammate: In Monza, the slipstream in qualifying could become the decisive factor. “I think it will be chaotic – in Q1, Q2, and probably also in Q3,” predicts Tsunoda. “But I guess that’s the usual story in Monza – probably even more extreme this year.”
“We need a good strategy for that, but such things are hard to predict,” knows the Racing Bulls driver, who still hopes for the support of his teammate Lindblad. “Yes, the slipstream is definitely important, and that influences everything. It will be heated.”