Yuki Tsunoda down on Red Bull spec again in Monaco after Imola F1 crash

Yuki Tsunoda has admitted his huge Imola F1 qualifying crash will have lingering effects, as he has to revert to a previous floor design at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Tsunoda suffered an enormous accident last Saturday in Q1 as he overstepped the limit of the Red Bull in the fast Tamburello chicane, sending him into the barriers. The Japanese driver thankfully climbed unhurt, but huge damage to the car meant the team had to build up a spare chassis with a new power unit and floor.

Speaking ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix Tsunoda has confirmed his crash means he will go back to being behind on specification of the Red Bull RB21 compared to team-mate Max Verstappen. Motorsport.com has learned that Tsunoda will be reverting to Red Bull’s older, pre-Miami floor. Verstappen ran the new floor in Miami before Tsunoda received it as well in Imola, but he then damaged it beyond repair in qualifying. It is understood to be the only difference with Verstappen’s car this weekend.

“In terms of package, to be honest I never ran the full new package yet, even Imola was a little bit different,” Tsunoda said. “I don’t think we’re going to have a full one [in Monaco], I just made a step back anyway, which is my fault.”

Tsunoda said his Imola crash, which recovered from with a strong drive from a pitlane start to a point in 10th, showed he still needs to build up knowledge of how this year’s Red Bull reacts to set-up changes, having jumped in at the Japanese Grand Prix without testing.

“Imola qualifying, it wouldn’t happen like that if I understand the car, to be honest,” he explained. “In the VCARB, I don’t think I’ve had that kind of crash by myself since 2022. I was pushing too much, so it’s just lacking understanding of how the car is going to behave with each set-up.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

“The set-up I tried was completely new. To be honest, I guess the Red Bull changes more than I expected. The VCARB car, even if we change it, I don’t think it would have that much of a difference. So, I just have to take it easy when I change the set-up and try something new.

“It’s taking slightly more than expected. But as a group we have a good relationship between me and Woody [race engineer Richard Wood] and Cooke [performance engineer Richard Cooke] as well. From our side of the garage, we just keep learning every race.”

The 25-year-old’s job won’t be any easier around the tight streets of Monaco, which leaves little room for error, but Tsunoda vows he will build up the pace gradually.

“In terms of track, I quite like it, and I had good memories last two years,” he said. “Apparently, the Red Bull car is a very bumpy car in Monaco and it’s not an easy car to drive, that’s what Max said.

“So, I just need to build the confidence and hopefully I can make a good qualifying. You can’t just follow the same approach as Imola or other tracks where you have a bit of run-off, so I’m just going to build up the pace slowly.”

As is the case with many teams, Red Bull has brought circuit-specific upgrades to cope with Monaco’s unique layout. New parts include a higher-downforce rear wing, revised brake ducts for cooling purposes and a tweaked front suspension to allow for greater steering lock to cope with the tight hairpin.