Yuki Tsunoda gives one-word response when asked if he had the pace to extend his first stint in America

Yuki Tsunoda expressed disappointment with VCARB’s strategy call during the 2024 US Grand Prix, claiming he was surprised by the team’s decision to bring him in early for a tire change. Speaking to the media including Sportskeeda, Tsunoda explained that his performance on the medium tires was improving when the team unexpectedly called him into the pits after just 18 laps.

While most drivers extended their medium tire stints to around 25-26 laps with some running more than 30 laps on the hard tires, Tsunoda’s early stop dropped him from a competitive seventh or eighth position, ahead of Sergio Perez and Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, down to 15th place. This left him stuck in traffic on the hard tires which were difficult to optimize in the dirty air, further hindering his progress.

The strategy also allowed his teammate Liam Lawson, who had started 19th, to capitalize on an overcut and rejoin the race ahead of Tsunoda. While Lawson went on to finish in ninth place, Tsunoda struggled to make headway and could only climb to 11th before a late-race spin dropped him back to 14th. Reflecting on the race, Tsunoda lamented that the early pit stop was the key moment that ruined his chances of securing a points finish.

Asked by Sportskeeda if he had more pace in the tires, Yuki Tsunoda said:

“Yeah.”

Asked if he expected the medium tire stint longer, he replied:

“Yeah, I would say so, but I have to definitely manage a lot of things, and actually probably track was improving quite a lot through lap by lap. All I heard was only just pit ‘box box box’. So yeah I think that moment was already kind of yeah was losing.”

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Yuki Tsunoda says he was surprised at VCARB’s strategy call that placed Liam Lawson ahead of him

Yuki Tsunoda acknowledged that his early pit stop, called by his team, allowed teammate Liam Lawson to overcut him during the 2024 US Grand Prix. While he claimed responsibility for his late-race spin, Tsunoda seemed puzzled by VCARB’s decision to bring him in after just 18 laps, especially when most other drivers were extending their first stints on the medium tires.

The unexpected strategy call left Tsunoda at a disadvantage, dropping him behind Lawson and several rival drivers, ultimately preventing him from capitalizing on a strong early position in the race. Despite his efforts, the combination of the early pit stop and his error on track cost him a better result.

Asked if he was surprised that Lawson rejoined the race ahead of him, Tsunoda said:

“I mean, I was P8, P7, and you know, he was starting P15, and I mean, if I spin in the middle of the race before that spin, I understand I'm behind him. But I don't understand why I'm being behind, why he’s rejoining in front of me. But definitely, I mean, this race, the drivers extended the first stint and it worked well. But obviously it’s hard to expect and also. But that's that and also definitely yeah, I have to reveal my mistake as well. Everything.”

Yuki Tsunoda has scored 22 of VCARB’s 36 points this season but the team lost their sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship to Haas after the sprint race where both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen scored points.

The next five races are crucial for the 22-year-old Japanese driver to prove his worth to his employers, especially as speculation grows about a potential shootout between Tsunoda and his New Zealander teammate Liam Lawson for a promotion to the senior Red Bull team in 2025 or 2026.

With Haas now leading VCARB, Tsunoda’s performance will be critical. Historically, the upcoming races at Mexico and Brazil have been strong tracks for VCARB, raising expectations that the team will fiercely fight to reclaim sixth place in the standings and strengthen their position as the season approaches its end.