RB had their strongest qualifying of the season in São Paulo, with Liam Lawson securing 5th while Yuki Tsunoda achieved a sensational career-best 3rd, lining up alongside polesitter Lando Norris and second-placed George Russell.
Hopes were high for Tsunoda to convert this result into a potential career-first podium, especially as he held his position in the first stint before being overtaken by Esteban Ocon just before the VSC. Both RB drivers then pitted for full wets on Lap 29, which dropped Tsunoda to 6th.
The race was red flagged shortly after, in response to Franco Colapinto’s crash. Tsunoda was among those who lost out under the red flag, as the drivers yet to pit took advantage of a ‘free’ tyre change during the stoppage.
Although RB ultimately managed to score points with both drivers, it was a bittersweet success and a matter of “what could have been” for Tsunoda, who lamented the timing of the red flag.
“I think what we did, switching to extreme [wet tyres], that was good,” Tsunoda said after the race.
“Just the safety car and the red flag came out, that was the point where it went very down. If the red flag didn’t come out, probably I would, at some point, have overtaken a lot of cars and maybe [been] P1, but it just didn’t come towards us.”
Tsunoda added that he was pleased RB managed to score with both drivers in the tricky conditions that defined Sunday’s race.
“Yeah, qualifying was happy, we ended up in P3, which is probably what we deserved. Straight away, Q1, I was P1 on extreme [wet tyres], very comfortably.
“The short run was really good…The long run wasn’t that great, so maybe something to learn there.”
Tsunoda continued: “Definitely positive points for both cars. It wasn’t easy conditions. If you lose concentration, there’s a lot of consequences.
“I enjoyed the last stint, fighting with Oscar [Piastri]. I tried to be within 10 seconds. You know, could have done a lot of things wrong, but kept it clean and tried to score P7, which is good.”
Alpine’s shock double podium certainly complicates RB’s battle for P6 in the Constructors’ standings. Tsunoda confirmed that the team will continue to push, although he doesn’t expect the upcoming tracks to suit RB.
“Very hard,” Tsunoda said of the fight for 6th. “Las Vegas and Qatar won’t be easy tracks for us, but we’ll do as much as we can.
“Very frustrated that [Alpine] scored P2 and P3. It’s pretty annoying, but it is what it is. Hopefully we’ll have a better car in the next three races and maximise it.”
