Suzuka GP: Tsunoda (10th) and Ricciardo (11th) hungry / Formula 1

The goal is clear for the drivers of Racing Bulls (official Visa Cash App RB): Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo want to score points in the Japan Grand Prix. The starting position is the same: the Japanese took a good tenth place on the grid in Suzuka qualifying, Ricciardo had to accept defeat and start eleventh.

Eight-time GP winner Ricciardo says: “If I forget that I didn’t finish in the top ten, then that was a great achievement. I had to sit out the first training session because we used Ayumu Iwasa, and it rained in the second session. Time for good coordination is limited. I’m encouraged by how things went against this situation, but I’m still angry that I didn’t make the top ten.”

Starting 11th is the best qualifying performance for the two-time World Cup bronze medalist (2014 and 2016) this year, “and I feel that things are going well. We have good race pace. I will be able to start on the clean side of track, I want to do it right after the start and get the points straight away. To do that, Ricciardo has to pass his partner Yuki Tsunoda.

The 23-year-old Japanese says about his qualification: “Of course the pressure was high because many fans expected me to qualify until the third part of the qualification. It wasn’t easy because I wasn’t happy with the balance of the car. Now I will do everything I can to get points in front of my audience.”

That would be a first: in 2022, Tsunoda finished thirteenth at Suzuka, and in 2023 it was enough for 12th place.

Yuki says: “Usually the top ten positions are occupied by the top five teams, but this time Aston Martin is further back than expected, we have to take advantage of that.”

Tsunoda recently finished seventh at the Australian Grand Prix.

Qualification, Japan

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:28,197 minutes
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:28.263
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:28.489
04. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:28.682
05. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:28.686
06. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:28.760
07. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:28,766
08. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:28,786
09. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:29,008
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:29,413
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, 1:39.472
12. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, 1:29.494
13. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:29.593
14. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:29,714
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:29,816
16. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:30,024
17. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:30,119
18. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:30.131
19. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, 1:30,139
20. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 1:30,143