“I’m so disappointed. I can’t describe it,” Yuki Tsunoda shattered after missing out on his maiden Monaco GP points

Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda encountered a significant brake issue during the Monaco Grand Prix, which prevented him from achieving his best finish of the season. Initially, everything seemed promising for Tsunoda, who had pushed his vehicle to the limit in qualifying and was performing exceptionally well in the race. However, his hopes were dashed when the brakes failed, leaving him unable to maintain his pace.

Expressing his frustration, Yuki Tsunoda revealed, “I had a brake issue and suddenly couldn’t push at all, and just pace was really, really poor, so it was really tough.” He had been running comfortably in ninth place for the majority of the race, on track to secure his first-ever points finish in Monaco. Unfortunately, the brake problem emerged as the rain began to fall, causing brake glazing that affected the stopping power of his car.

Tsunoda had been confident in his car’s performance and had consistently impressed throughout the season, consistently surpassing the capabilities of his vehicle. Prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, he had consistently finished in 10th or 11th place, showcasing remarkable consistency and skill. And for his teammate Nyck de Vries also struggled through the race and fell 30 seconds behind Yuki despite being in clear air. 

Reflecting on the turn of events, Tsunoda expressed deep disappointment, stating, “I’m so disappointed. I can’t describe it with a word.” He mentioned that until the middle of the race, the car and pace were excellent, and everything had gone well. Therefore, it was difficult for him to accept what had happened in the end. 

Discover: Helmut Marko gives a major update on Nyck de Vries’ ultimatum after outperforming teammate Yuki Tsunoda at Monaco GP

Alex Albon shares Yuki Tsunoda’s grief with the braking issues

Tsunoda recalled, “The team said to push the brake more because the temperature will come up, so the brake will be in the normal range. So ‘okay, I appreciate it and see how it goes’. And I went immediately into the wall.” The attempt to address the issue by increasing brake temperature backfired, resulting in an unfortunate car sliding.

The brake issue experienced by Tsunoda was not isolated, Alexander Albon, provided insight into the brake problem, explaining, “The problem [occurs] when you go from hot to cold, when you go from dry to wet.” This sudden transition caused the brakes to glaze, resulting in instant wheel locks during critical braking moments.

The Thai driver also faced issues with braking and had to settle for 14th position ending one lap down on the leader. The untimely rain shifted the track temperatures rapidly which made the brakes surfer blazing. 

The Monaco Grand Prix proved to be a missed opportunity for Yuki Tsunoda, who had the potential to secure his best result of the season. Nonetheless, his determination and skill remain evident, and it remains to be seen if the young Japanese driver can grab the eyes of his Red Bull head honchos.

In case you missed it:

• Toto Wolff admits Mercedes refused George Russell’s demand to swap positions with Lewis Hamilton at the Monaco GP
• Fernando Alonso warns Max Verstappen while bragging about his past, says driving the fastest car doesn’t guarantee Championships

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