Yuki Tsunoda attributed his strongest qualifying performance for Red Bull to a last-minute floor upgrade, which helped him secure seventh place on the grid for Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps. The Japanese driver’s improved pace put him just behind his teammate Max Verstappen, who qualified fourth.

Since moving up to Red Bull, Tsunoda has struggled to make a consistent impact, managing points in only three races with a best finish of ninth at the Bahrain Grand Prix. His run of poor results included a difficult race at Silverstone where he finished last among classified drivers. Despite these challenges, Tsunoda remains with Red Bull for this season, although his future with the team beyond 2024 is uncertain.

Speaking during the weekend at Spa, Tsunoda praised the new floor package introduced just before qualifying. He explained that the upgrade made a significant difference in his performance and confidence on track.

I am happy with it. Also, the team did a good job to bring me the upgrades just before qualifying,

Tsunoda said.

That was big enough to put me in this position. Also, some bits to go but the floor was big enough anyway. Certainly, I feel much better.

The improvement allowed Tsunoda to return to Q3 after a string of difficult qualifying sessions. Although he faced the challenge of running on scrubbed tyres, he noticed that many drivers were struggling in similar conditions.

To be honest, with scrubbed tyres I was quite off,

Tsunoda explained.

Also I saw the field and I saw that everyone was struggling as well. Having only one set and going into that situation, we had a lot of pressure but at the same time it was the situation.

Already going into Q3 it was already been a while so just enjoyed the session. Pleased with the position that I got today.

How the new floor immediately boosted Tsunoda’s performance

Tsunoda noticed the positive effects of the new floor almost right away, highlighting an increase in grip and his ability to drive more aggressively. He acknowledged that while the lap time improvements on paper appeared modest, the feel and control of the car marked a meaningful step forward.

A bit more grip. Literally. We saw on paper how much difference that we had. Considering the difference that I had in terms of delta lap time it wasn’t that huge. I knew in myself that we are in the right direction to improve in the way that I want. I’m happy that I improved. Generally, a bit more grip. The previous one was a bit too sensitive to everything. This one, you can be aggressive with it.

This upgrade seems to have helped Tsunoda regain some confidence, allowing him to extract more from the car in qualifying and put himself in a stronger position for the race ahead.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps

Starting seventh at one of Formula 1’s most challenging circuits offers Tsunoda a valuable opportunity to score points and improve his season record. Red Bull will be eager to see him capitalize on the floor upgrade’s benefits as the team competes for valuable points battles.

Given Tsunoda’s recent struggles, this qualifying result represents a hopeful sign of progress, though attention will remain on how the upgrade impacts his race pace and consistency. His ability to translate this qualifying performance into a strong race result could influence his standing within the team moving forward.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Did Yuki Tsunoda ever win a race?

A. Yuki Tsunoda started his journey to Formula One in 2016 by competing in the Japanese F4 championship at Suzuka. During that series, he achieved 10 race wins and stood on the podium 18 times. He also secured 12 pole positions and recorded five fastest laps.

Q. Has Yuki Tsunoda won a race?

A. Yuki Tsunoda secured his first championship victory during the second race at Hockenheim. Earlier, he finished second at Paul Ricard and third at the Pau Grand Prix.

Q. Who is the shortest F1 driver? While some drivers tower over the grid, Yuki Tsunoda confidently holds the title of the shortest driver in Formula 1, standing at just 1.59 meters (5 ft 3 in). That makes him a full 27 centimeters shorter than the tallest drivers—Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon.

A. Who is the shortest driver in Formula 1?