Yuki Tsunoda Admits Crucial Point as Surprising Gap Continues

Yuki Tsunoda is facing new challenges this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix after a tough first day on track. The Japanese driver ended the opening practice session in ninth place, but slipped to 13th during the second run.

Tsunoda admitted he is struggling to understand why he is slower at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. He said he made some progress through the sessions but still found the day to be tricky.

He described his pace as “unexpected” and said the car’s balance felt fine. However, he could not identify a clear reason for his lack of speed.

While Tsunoda was left searching for answers, teammate Max Verstappen turned in a strong Friday performance. Verstappen finished second quickest in the opening practice and followed up with third place in the second session.

Verstappen continues to show his pace as part of the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull team. This created a bigger gap between the two drivers than Tsunoda anticipated.

Speaking after practice, Tsunoda said he did not make any big mistakes on his fast laps and felt relatively satisfied with his efforts behind the wheel. However, he acknowledged that just 10 points in the six rounds following his move from Racing Bulls was not the performance he or his team hoped to achieve.

“If I had a mistake with this result I’d be happy, but it’s not like that,” Tsunoda admitted. He expects to spend more time than usual with his engineers trying to find answers overnight.

Still, with curfews in place and limited hours, finding a solution before qualifying may prove difficult.

The practice data from Friday suggests that this weekend’s race could be closely contested, with many teams working to close small gaps in performance. Oscar Piastri, another rising star in Formula 1, has already made a prediction about qualifying after seeing the pace displayed by Red Bull during practice.

As teams analyze long-run and short-run data, there is growing anticipation among fans and drivers alike for an exciting race at Barcelona.

The Formula 1 calendar continues to move quickly, with several major races ahead in June and July. The Spanish Grand Prix goes ahead on June 1, followed by races in Canada, Austria, Britain, and Belgium. Recent FIA rule changes may also impact team strategies in these upcoming events.

Each event will play a key role in shaping the 2025 championship standings for both drivers and teams. Tsunoda and his team will use the remaining practice and data analysis sessions to identify why the gap remains.

As the weekend continues, both drivers and fans are looking for signs of improvement. For Yuki Tsunoda, the goal is clear: close the gap and return to the points as Formula 1’s race schedule moves into the summer months.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.