‘We got Tsunoda’d’ - Horner blames Tsunoda for ruining Red Bull's F1 qualifying

Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner says Yuki Tsunoda’s late off ruined both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s final qualifying runs at the Mexico City Grand Prix. 
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri AT02.
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri AT02.
© xpbimages.com

Verstappen was attempting to make up a 0.350s deficit to Valtteri Bottas during his final run of Q3 when he was forced to back out of his lap through the essess due to F1 teammate Perez and AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda both running off-track ahead of him. 

The moment cost both Verstappen and Perez, who could not improve and were left a disappointing third and fourth on the grid having at one staged looked like firm favourites for pole position. 

“I think we got Tsunoda’d,” Horner told Sky when asked how it went wrong for Red Bull. 

“Both drivers were up on their last lap; Max was up two and a half tenths, I think Checo was just under two-tenths up and I don’t understand why he was just cruising around at that part of the circuit. 

“It’s disappointing because it affected both the drivers and they are both pretty annoyed. But we’re still second row of the grid and can have a great race from there.” 

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
© xpbimages.com

Immediately after the incident, Verstappen was heard saying over team radio: "Unbelievable, what a dumb idiot.”

Speaking after the session, the championship leader said the trouble ahead of him ultimately “destroyed” his chances of improving his position. 

”It seems like through qualifying, the balance went away a little bit," Verstappen explained after qualifying. 

"But then actually in the last lap, I was on for a good lap, but then I don't know what happened in front of me.

"There were two guys going off so I thought there was going to be a yellow flag, so I back out and then the lap is of course destroyed.

"Even with that, and not having a great balance, I think we could have gone for the pole lap. Of course third is not amazing, but I think it's still better than starting second."

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