Austin wasn’t as sweet to Yuki Tsunoda as it had been in 2023, when the Japanese driver had brought back home well deserved points with a P8, and a fastest lap to boot. This time around, starting from that same P8 spot, a bad strategy, followed by a spin, cost him a shot at a top ten result.
In fact, after being in the fight for a top ten spot with Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg in the opening stint, Tsunoda was first awarded a five seconds time penalty for forcing Alexander Albon off track at the very controversial Turn 12, the same spot where Russell and Norris were handed penalties.
Later on in the race, the 24-year-old, in his fourth season with RB, spun out at Turn 1 on Lap 41, dropping to P14. He was still able to continue his race, but never managed to make any inroads from there on older tyres.
Tsunoda was definitely less than pleased with the performance in the US GP, as he commented on it after the end of the race.
He was left unsatisfied with the decision to pit on the earlier side of the race, while he was in the midst of his duel with Hülkenberg, as well as making his own error.
“Yeah, we started P8, it was a good start. We just probably followed too much other cars and when I recognised the drivers who started behind and extending along, especially also Hülkenberg as well, he was able to manage to do that.
“So, to be honest, there is definitely something to look at there and it shouldn’t happen like that.
“But also, that’s that and my mistake was there as well. So, combined.
“For myself it definitely shouldn’t happen like it had in that moment, yeah.”
After his stop, he dropped behind Ocon, Stroll and Albon as traffic cost him any chance of finishing ahead of Lawson and Colapinto.
In fact, he was overcut by his RB teammate and Nico Hülkenberg as he could not make his way through.
“I was stuck behind all the time in cars and I was not able to use about free air. I mean, I still understand, those people who started behind and on hard tyre, [they were] able to extend. Hülkenberg extended quite a lot and he actually overcut me.
“So yeah, we weren’t able to communicate properly between engineers and myself, I didn’t really get questions about the tyres feedback and how they were and everything.
“I just got told that I have to pit, so I just went.”
The Japanese driver strongly feels like his race could have been aided by staying out and extending his stint like Hülkenberg, which could have been ensured with more dialogue with his team at the pit wall.
“Yeah, I would say so, but I have to definitely manage a lot of things and actually the track was improving quite a lot through lap by lap. All I heard was only just pit box, box, box, so, yeah, I think that moment was already kind of…”
Asked about the overcut completed by his younger teammate Liam Lawson, which had caught him by surprise, the former Carlin F2 driver admitted he was left upset, especially as the driver from New Zealand had started at the back due to engine component changes.
“I was P8, P7 and, you know, he was starting P5, P15 and, if I spin in the middle of the race before that, I understand I’m behind him, but I don’t understand why I’m being behind and he’s rejoining me in front of me.
“But definitely, in this race for the drivers who extended the first stint worked out well, but obviously it’s hard to expect and that’s that. Also I have to review my mistake as well as everything.”
