Following a challenging qualifying session at the F1 Mexico City GP, Yuki Tsunoda secured a P10 starting position for the race. In the post-session media debrief, the Japanese driver elaborated on his performance, the car’s limitations and a clear difference in equipment compared to his teammate, Max Verstappen.
Tsunoda on Qualifying performance at F1 Mexico City GP
Tsunoda, who just failed to advance to Q3, felt that he performed well, given the car’s issues. He noted that he was consistently close to his teammate throughout the qualifying stages, behind by 0.2-0.3s across the runs in the first two segments.
“This time I was quite close… consistently throughout the qualifying,” the Japanese driver said. “I was just two-tenths off.”
He acknowledged that in such a tight field, that small gap was just enough to progress. Despite the car’s underlying difficulties, he was personally content with his final representative lap.
“It’s not a bad lap I had in Q2,” he reflected. “I think I just did what I wanted to do.”
Grip struggles and package disparity
The primary issue plaguing the driver was a fundamental lack of grip.
Tsunoda explained that this was a shared problem within the garage, not one isolated to his car.
“I think he [Verstappen] was struggling with the grip, also same as me as well, especially just mechanical grip,” he stated.
This lack of mechanical grip creates a difficult knock-on effect, as Tsunoda added, “And with this kind of situation, it’s very sensitive to warm-up as well.”
When asked if he was running the same package as Verstappen for the F1 Mexico City GP, Tsunoda confirmed he was at a technical disadvantage this weekend.
“He has a new floor,” Tsunoda revealed. “He has a new package this time as well… I will see what I can do. I think the floor is good. So far, everything else on the floor is better.”
This disparity in parts adds another layer of challenge to Tsunoda’s weekend as he attempts to maximize an older-specification car.
Focus on performance amidst contract talks
This solid qualifying result comes at a critical juncture, as team management, including advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, continues to evaluate driver options for the 2026 season.
Recent reports had suggested that Tsunoda’s strong performance last weekend at the Austin Grand Prix might be causing the team to delay their decision, which was initially expected after this Grand Prix.
When asked if this potential delay made him happier, Tsunoda remained pragmatic and focused on his on-track job. “I don’t know if it’s happier or not, to be honest, but I just keep performing,” he said.
Looking ahead to the race, and noting that Carlos Sainz is expected to take a 5-place grid penality, the Japanese driver is focused on the opportunity from his starting position. “I think I’m starting P10, so I’ll take it.”
