Yuki Tsunoda’s 100th Grand Prix ended in disappointment as a strategy miscommunication cost him a chance at points in Spa.
After qualifying a season-best P7, the Red Bull driver looked set to finally end his points drought. But when the track dried, a delayed call to switch to slick tyres saw Tsunoda miss the pit entry and lose five positions—dropping him into a DRS train behind Pierre Gasly.
“That was my race,” a frustrated Tsunoda said post-race. “I asked to switch tyres, but they called me too late—I had just passed the pit entry.”
Despite briefly battling back to P11, tyre wear and a lack of straight-line speed left him vulnerable. He was ultimately overtaken by Ollie Bearman and Nico Hülkenberg, finishing a disheartening 13th.
It was a missed opportunity for Tsunoda, who had finally received the same upgrades as Max Verstappen this weekend and reached Q3 for the first time since Miami. With 10 points and a 17th-place standing in the championship, he’ll be hoping for redemption in Budapest before the summer break.
