Yuki Tsunoda is hoping that “anything can happen” after a day of contrasting emotions for AlphaTauri in Qualifying for 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Tsunoda will start the race from last position on the grid in 20th after crashing out of Qualifying, following a locking of his rear tyres which sent him spinning backwards into the barriers at Variante Alta.
The 20 year-old spoke post Qualifying of the crash, saying; “The crash today in Qualifying was my mistake and I want to apologise to the team – I was pushing too hard into the entry of the chicane and just couldn’t control the car after that.”
Tsunoda however admitted that the car had “felt really good” on that specific lap leading up to the incident which caused a nine minute red flag, whilst also suspecting that he would of advanced to Q2 by virtue of just that lap alone without needing another run.
Rain however is in the air for tomorrow’s race which gives Tsunoda hope that he can push forward, commenting; “I believe there’s the potential for rain at the start of tomorrow’s race, so anything can happen, and I’ll try to push as hard as I can to make my way forward from the back.”
Pierre Gasly meanwhile qualified fifth on the grid and was only 0.379 seconds off pole-sitter, Lewis Hamilton, despite the Frenchman admitting that he found Qualifying “a bit harder than in Bahrain,” due to rival teams upping their pace.
On securing fifth, Gasly was “pleased” to have put his car in the top five at AlphaTauri’s home race but is wary of how competitive the field is, saying; “The gaps are extremely close – I think we’re just a couple of hundredths off Charles and just three or four tenths from the top guys – so it’s a great achievement today…”
Gasly also is aware of the chance of rain tomorrow so has spoken of the importance in preparing for various scenarios from a wet race to drama up front for example, iterating that he has to be ready if he is to capitalise on “every opportunity” possible.
Technical Director, Jody Egginton echoed Gasly’s thoughts on the closeness of the grid but is happy with how “competitive” both cars were and that the Frenchman’s fifth place on the grid is representative of the car’s stature in the pack.
Egginton also acknowledged Tsunoda’s crash as one that will contribute towards the youngster’s development, saying; “These things happen to young drivers on their journey into F1 but he’ll bounce back from it…”
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