Yuki Tsunoda in Q3 again, but struggles with unpredictable Red Bull RB21 | F1 Jeddah GP. Yuki Tsunoda qualifies eighth in Jeddah, helping Max Verstappen secure pole.

Yuki Tsunoda’s role
Two Red Bulls in Q3 for two consecutive Grands Prix hadn’t been seen since last September, when the Milton Keynes team placed both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Q3 on Saturday in Monza and Baku. In Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with Yuki Tsunoda alongside the Dutch champion, this result has returned. One could say that the Japanese talent is doing well in his role as second driver, having secured eighth place on the grid and, above all, having fully supported his ‘captain’ by providing a crucial slipstream in the first sector that greatly helped Max Verstappen secure pole.

An unpredictable car
Speaking at the end of the day, Yuki Tsunoda highlighted the challenges he still faces — it must be said, this was only his third qualifying session in a Red Bull — in pushing the unpredictable RB21 to the limit. “Congratulations to Max for the pole, he did a great lap. My final lap in Q3 was rather messy and I was expecting more,” Yuki Tsunoda admitted, “but we’re still learning, and it seems that every time I push harder, something unpredictable happens, and it’s been quite difficult to put everything together for a clean lap.” – he pointed out at the end of the qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“It’s quite frustrating not to be able to put it all together in Q3 when it really matters, but at least it’s positive to be in Q3 again this weekend,” continued Red Bull’s #2. “Some of the difficulties are down to experience, but my confidence in the car is growing. I need to keep pushing — we want more. Hopefully we can be more consistent in the race, as our setup is more focused on long runs than on single-lap pace. I’ll do my best to overtake and finish the race with some important points.” – the Japanese driver concluded.