Yuki Tsunoda soars above the Imola kerbs.
Edging away from the lower order, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo believe RB now make a clear top six in Formula 1’s pecking order.
In a first for this season, RB achieved a significant milestone by securing both cars in the pole position shoot-out. Tsunoda managed to qualify in seventh place, while Ricciardo secured the ninth position during the qualifying session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Have RB edged clear of the bottom four teams?
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
The team’s impressive performance in Q3 was a result of their successful upgrades for the Miami Grand Prix. It was an exceptional weekend where both drivers, Ricciardo in the Sprint and Tsunoda in the Grand Prix, secured a spot in the top ten during the qualifying session.
The Japanese driver announces that RB has now formed a separate top six group, distinct from the bottom four teams in Formula 1.
“I believe we have potentially become one of the top six teams,” he stated to the media, which included PlanetF1.com. “It ultimately depends on how well we adapt to the specific track.”
“We have been performing well up to this point, and it appears that the Miami upgrades are exceeding expectations. This serves as confirmation of their success.”
However, we will also remain vigilant as we understand that this outcome is not guaranteed every time, therefore we persistently strive forward. We are aware of our current position and our desired destination, and thus we continue to persevere.
He further stated that he had not anticipated such a high level of performance from the car, making it difficult for him to make a definitive judgement.
“In the past, we have typically faced difficulties when it comes to high speeds. However, we have noticed a significant improvement compared to the previous races, especially in comparison to the top five teams. This is something we need to carefully analyze and comprehend as we move forward.”
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Ricciardo was asked about Tsunoda’s assertion that RB now constitutes a top six in Formula 1.
In his first ever qualifying for a Grand Prix in Q3, the Honey Badger expressed his delight, stating that he finds it encouraging to see his team performing well on various circuits and being competitive.
“Alright, we are both in Q3. However, throughout the majority of this year, Yuki has been leading. In Miami, though, I was ahead on Saturday while Yuki took the lead on Sunday.”
“I believe that by completing a solid lap, our car performance would classify us as a W3 team, which is truly motivating.”
Despite some fluctuations, I believe we consistently have a strong sense of the car’s performance, and we are steadily getting closer to the top teams.
“Undoubtedly, the upcoming week brings a completely new track. Our hope is to return here again. However, it’s evident that we have begun to gain more confidence in ourselves.”
RB will line up on the Imola Grand Prix sixth in the Constructors’ Championship on 19 points, 12 clear of Haas who also bagged a top ten grid position with Nico Hulkenberg.
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