Yuki Tsunoda: “The gap with Max continues to narrow” – Damage to the car hinders his performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Image credit: Yuki Tsunoda “The gap with Max continues to narrow.” Car damage held him back at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: August 2025

By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer

Yuki Tsunoda, who finished 17th at the Hungarian Grand Prix, reflected on the weekend and said, “The gap with Max Verstappen continues to narrow.” He said that the damage he sustained during the race was a major factor in hindering his advance.

In qualifying, he finished 16th, being eliminated in Q1. Following a power unit change, he chose to start from the pit lane for the final. However, midway through the race, the Gurney flap, part of the front wing, fell off, significantly reducing his pace and grip. This also meant he lost freedom in terms of strategy, and he ultimately took the checkered flag in 17th place.

“We knew it would be difficult to get into the points today, but the damage to the front wing effectively ended the race,” said Tsunoda. “The Gurney flap fell off midway through the race, and we lost a lot of pace. From there, there was no room for a strategic advantage.”

Furthermore, there was a lack of communication regarding strategy during the 70-lap race. This was a similar issue to what happened at Spa, where a late tire change on a drying track cost the team points. Tsunoda was critical, saying, “In the battle for points, a delay in decision-making can be costly. This has happened in two races in a row, and it’s very frustrating. We need to improve.”

Still, there are positives ahead of the summer break. Since the introduction of the new RB21 floor at Spa, the car is now the same specification as Verstappen’s, and there has been a steady improvement in pace. Although it is not reflected in the results, the gap to Verstappen has narrowed to just 0.1 seconds.

“Looking back on the season, I can see it as a positive. I’ve made progress, especially since the introduction of the new floor. The gap to Max has narrowed, and on paper, it’s only 1/10 of a second. I don’t think many drivers can get that close,” said Tsunoda confidently. “I’ll go straight to the factory tomorrow to get into the simulator and see where I went wrong. I’ll prepare well over the summer break and come back stronger in the second half of the season.”

Tsunoda has earned 10 points so far this season, with his best result being ninth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix and two sixth-place finishes in sprints.