Yuki Tsunoda is confident of a stronger showing at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, as he prepares to receive long-awaited upgrades to his RB21 car.
The Japanese driver has endured a difficult first half of the Formula 1 season. He has failed to score points in the last five races and currently sits 17th in the drivers’ championship.
Tsunoda admitted he has been driving with an older car specification compared to his Red Bull teammate, Max Verstappen. “Currently, I’m two steps behind in terms of the package compared to Max,” he told media, including RacingNews365.
However, he revealed that new parts will be introduced to his car in Belgium, offering a potential boost to his recent form. “At least I’m going to have upgrades next weekend. That will for sure help for the next race,” Tsunoda said.
The Belgian Grand Prix, held at Spa-Francorchamps, will be a sprint weekend. Drivers will have just one practice session before heading into qualifying and sprint events. This leaves little time for adjustments, especially with the introduction of new components.
Tsunoda acknowledged the challenge but remained optimistic. “The only time I can adjust with the floor will be [during] one free practice, but I’ll do my best,” he said.
Tsunoda has struggled to find a consistent pace since joining Red Bull, with previous drivers like Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez also facing difficulties in adapting to the car. Despite these challenges, the upcoming upgrades may provide Tsunoda with an opportunity to close the gap and become more competitive against Verstappen.
