Yuki Tsunoda’s first Sprint Qualifying session as a Red Bull driver ended in disappointment at the Miami Grand Prix, with the Japanese driver relegated to P18 on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race. Tsunoda pointed to “poor communication” and traffic issues as the primary culprits behind his early exit in SQ1, expressing frustration over a missed opportunity to showcase his pace in the RB21.
The 24-year-old, who joined Red Bull’s senior team at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this season, faced a chaotic SQ1 session on Friday at the Miami International Autodrome. After posting an initial lap time of 1m 29.246s, Tsunoda found himself in the elimination zone, needing a strong final run to progress to SQ2. However, a combination of on-track traffic and a critical misstep involving teammate Max Verstappen derailed his efforts.
Running behind Verstappen in the closing moments of SQ1, Tsunoda was caught out when the reigning world champion slowed to enter the pits, having secured a safe passage to SQ2. This left Tsunoda short on time to cross the start/finish line before the chequered flag, robbing him of a chance to improve his lap. “I was aware it was tight, but what do you want me to do? There’s a car in front,” Tsunoda said, visibly frustrated. “Communication was pretty poor as well, and I didn’t get a proper qualifying.”
Tsunoda also highlighted issues with his first lap, which was compromised by traffic, including an incident where Haas driver Oliver Bearman emerged from the pitlane, forcing him to slow. A lock-up at the final corner further hampered his time, leaving him with a lap he described as “pretty gone from Turn 1 already.”
The Red Bull team acknowledged the miscommunication, with reports indicating Tsunoda was not given sufficient urgency to complete his final run. This error was particularly costly for a driver still adapting to the demands of Red Bull’s RB21, a car Tsunoda has described as having a “sharper, narrower window” of performance compared to his previous VCARB 02.
Starting P18 in the 19-lap Sprint race, Tsunoda faces an uphill battle to score points in what is only his second Sprint as a Red Bull driver. Despite the setback, he remained cautiously optimistic, noting the unpredictable nature of the Miami track. “It’s pretty far back,” he admitted. “I’ll try my best, obviously. Anything can happen at this track, so I keep positive.”
Tsunoda’s struggles contrasted sharply with the standout performance of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who clinched his maiden pole in Sprint Qualifying, becoming the youngest polesitter in F1 history at 18. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris secured second and third, while Verstappen recovered from his late pit entry to qualify fourth.
The session was not without its share of chaos for others, with Alpine’s Jack Doohan also eliminated in SQ1, starting P17 after a pitlane mix-up. Doohan echoed Tsunoda’s frustrations, blaming his team for releasing him and teammate Pierre Gasly simultaneously, which led to traffic and a missed opportunity for a second lap.
For Tsunoda, the Miami Sprint Qualifying serves as another chapter in his ongoing adaptation to Red Bull’s high-pressure environment. Having scored points in Bahrain but retired in Saudi Arabia after a first-lap collision, the Japanese driver is under scrutiny to prove he can match the pace of Verstappen, who has consistently outperformed his teammates. Former teammate Pierre Gasly recently cautioned that succeeding alongside Verstappen is “complicated,” emphasizing that speed alone may not guarantee success at Red Bull.