Yuki Tsunoda says a one-stop strategy in Hungary was “not even in our conversation” before he used it for an impressive drive to ninth place in Hungary.
The VCARB driver started 10th after the team had to build up a brand new car following his huge crash in Q3.
He managed to make his medium tyres last for 29 laps and then used a set of hards to get to the flag as the only driver in the field to pit once.
While he inevitably lost out to the faster cars of Sergio Perez and George Russell that started behind he managed to jump the Astons of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, as well as his own team mate Daniel Ricciardo.
“One stop was not even in our conversation before the race,” he said when asked by this writer about the strategy. “So I’m very surprised that we’re able to achieve one stop and hang on until the end of the race.”
“That was good, and obviously big thanks to the team that they repaired very fast and precisely overnight. Without that, I wouldn’t be here, so big credit.”
Tsunoda admitted that he didn’t know that the race would pan out so well for him.
“The start wasn’t that great, I wasn’t able to gain a position,” he said. “So I think what I did for the tyre management, also what the team decided to make, that was really decisive and really good.”
“To be honest, I thought we were just waiting for a safety car. But actually, I heard that pace is actually faster than the people who pitted. So that was actually an unexpected thing. And I was very surprised.”
“Inside, the feeling wasn’t that great. Obviously, it’s quite on edge pretty much everywhere. But I guess the management I did in the beginning was pretty good.”
“And also I was feeling rushed, because a couple of fast cars that pitted tried to overtake me, so I lost out couple of times there. But I hung on quite well.”
He added: “It was important to be able to finish in front of all the competitors where we fighting, especially Haas. I guess they’re very fast, and they will be very fast even more in Spa, I’m expecting.”
Coming after a solid 10th at Silverstone the timing of Tsunoda’s Budapest performance was ideal, given the current speculation over Red Bull’s plans for Sergio Perez, and how the company might juggle its drivers around.
However RBR Christian Horner is known to be lukewarm on Tsunoda as a potential candidate for the senior team.
Asked if his Hungarian drive might help his case with those who don’t see him as an RBR driver Tsunoda said: “I don’t know. Hopefully they’ll change their mind, obviously, just keep improving myself with these results.”
“These things, I can control with the results and everything, and those mindsets or whatever, about their thinking, is out of my control.”
“So hopefully, with my efforts with the last two tracks I’ve done, and also next track, will count a little bit, and hopefully that will make a little bit change for their mind.”
