Yuki Tsunoda Reflects on a Chaotic Miami GP Saturday and Eyes Sunday Recovery
It was a rollercoaster of a Saturday for Yuki Tsunoda at the Miami Grand Prix. The Japanese driver endured an unpredictable day that included damp track conditions, limited setup clarity, and a final qualifying result that left him both optimistic and unsatisfied. Yet, as always, Tsunoda met the moment with a mix of sharp analysis, self-awareness, and his trademark dry humor.
After fighting through a turbulent sprint session earlier in the weekend, Tsunoda managed to scrape his way into Q3 during the main qualifying session—a feat he acknowledged with measured satisfaction.
“Yeah, it’s mixed feelings for sure,” Tsunoda began after climbing out of the car. “Getting into Q3 was positive, especially since yesterday I couldn’t even get a proper lap in during the sprint qualifying.”
Battling Setup Uncertainty Amid Miami’s Wild Weather
With South Florida’s weather doing its usual unpredictable dance, teams were thrown a curveball in setup preparation. The rain on Friday left the team without much representative dry running. As Tsunoda explained, they were effectively flying blind heading into qualifying.
“We didn’t have a clear read on the car’s balance,” he said. “Because of the rain, we had to change the setup almost based on guesswork. Considering all that, getting into Q3 was a good step. But yeah, P10 isn’t where I want to be.”
That frustration didn’t come across as negativity—more like a racer who knows there’s more on the table. When asked about the lap that sealed his P10 grid spot, Tsunoda offered a nuanced breakdown of where he felt things clicked and where they didn’t.
Q3 Lap: Progress but Not Perfection
“Honestly, it wasn’t a bad lap. It was probably one of my better ones this weekend,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t really piece it all together in that final run. I had a few moments—some oversteer, a couple of lock-ups—and that kept me from maximizing the lap.”
Despite the struggles, Tsunoda didn’t place the blame entirely on himself. In fact, he pointed out that the car itself felt a bit out of sync, particularly under acceleration.
“It’s strange. The car just isn’t picking up speed the way I expect. It’s a bit confusing, to be honest. Maybe it’s just a matter of adjusting to the latest updates. That could be playing a role, but yeah, P10 isn’t the goal.”
Searching for Answers with the Team
When asked about where specifically he and the engineers were focusing their attention in terms of improvements, Tsunoda’s response was disarmingly honest.
“If I knew exactly what was wrong, I’d tell you now,” he shrugged. “Like I said, it just doesn’t accelerate the way I think it should.”
That sort of candor is part of what makes Tsunoda such a compelling figure in the paddock. He doesn’t sugarcoat things, but he also doesn’t let frustration cloud his focus. He’s honest, but constructive.
Verstappen’s New Floor: A Talking Point
Naturally, attention has turned to Max Verstappen’s pace advantage—especially after Red Bull’s lead driver took pole position with apparent ease. Verstappen was reportedly running a new floor, and Tsunoda was asked if he thought that innovation played a role in the gap.
“Probably, yeah,” he said. “He took pole, so it’s clearly working to some extent. But I can’t really say how much of a difference it made. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to try it myself in the coming races.”
Tsunoda’s comments were neither critical nor envious—just the musings of a driver keen to get every advantage he can without jumping to conclusions.
Following Verstappen’s Lead — But Only So Far
Tsunoda was also quizzed on whether he had leaned on Verstappen’s setup data this weekend, especially given the changing conditions and new parts.
“I try to go my own way,” he replied. “Of course, we share info and there’s always some back-and-forth. But I believe the setup we chose on our side was a good one. Max made a bigger step forward this time. I’ve tried to take some positives from what he’s doing, but we’re on different floors, literally. That means different behavior, so you can’t just copy-paste everything.”
That kind of nuanced thinking shows a maturing driver, one who understands both the value of collaboration and the importance of tailoring setups to personal driving style.
Sprint Surprise: “Wait, I Got Three Points?”
In a lighter moment, Tsunoda was reminded that his sixth-place finish in the sprint had earned him three valuable championship points. For a moment, he looked genuinely surprised.
“Three? Really?” he laughed. “Not bad, considering I started from the pit lane in P22 and ended up sixth. Tomorrow should be easier—I’ve only got nine cars in front of me this time!”
It was classic Yuki—dry, quick-witted, and humble. But beneath the humor was a genuine optimism. If he could navigate through the chaos of a sprint race and still collect points, there’s every reason to believe he could push further in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Eyes on Sunday: Better Position, More Confidence
Unlike Saturday’s sprint, where Tsunoda started from the very back due to pit lane penalties, Sunday’s main event offers a far more favorable starting point. Beginning from P10 gives him a solid platform to build from—especially if the car’s performance can be unlocked further overnight.
“I’m hoping the race is a bit more straightforward,” he said. “We’ll dig into the data, try to understand where the car isn’t responding as expected, and go from there. The potential is there—we just need to connect the dots.”
Given the form he showed in the sprint and his generally solid racecraft, few would bet against Tsunoda climbing up the order if things go his way.
Conclusion: Small Wins, Bigger Steps Ahead
The Miami weekend has been a mixed bag for Yuki Tsunoda so far. Between changing conditions, experimental setups, and mixed results in qualifying, it’s been anything but simple. Yet through it all, Tsunoda has stayed composed, honest, and quietly optimistic.
There’s work to do—both in understanding the new car updates and refining his approach—but if his sprint drive is any indication, he’s already ahead of the curve. Now, with a clearer starting position and valuable lessons from Saturday in hand, Sunday’s race offers a real chance for redemption.
As Tsunoda himself put it best: “If I could get from the pit lane to P6, then starting P10 shouldn’t be that hard.”
And just like that, Tsunoda has turned a frustrating Saturday into a springboard for Sunday success.
