The second AlphaTauri driver faces his first Grand Prix on Canadian soil with an important penalty that on Sunday will force him to start from the final stretch of the grid for using more components than those allowed by the FIA.
In a year in which the new generation of single-seaters is the true protagonist on the track every race weekend, the drivers do not forget another of the arduous tasks that they have to undertake in addition to adapting to these new cars: trying to reach Abu Dhabi without penalizing for using more elements of the power unit than allowed.
However, it is becoming more and more common for several of the members of the Formula 1 grid to fail. Fernando Alonso was the first to take advantage of the opportunity to start last in Barcelona after a complete change of his engine, taking advantage of a negative qualifying session at home that allowed him to breathe a little after several engines practically thrown away at the start of the World Cup .
sooner than expected
With 22 Grands Prix on the final calendar this year after the FIA and Formula 1 confirmed that there was going to be no substitute for the defunct Russian GP, we still haven’t even reached the Ecuador it’s from the season.
Even so, Yuki Tsunoda has had no choice but to embrace the penalties that will visit him on Sunday for, precisely, using additional components related to his power unit: 4th combustion engine, turbo, MGU-H and MGU-K, 2nd battery unit and control unit, in addition to the 5th exhausts of the year for him.
Loading tweet…
1537870111620595714
The young Japanese driver remains at the bottom of the table with just 11 points in the first 9 races of 2022, for the 16 of his teammate Pierre Gasly, which allow the Frenchman to close the Top 10 tied with Fernando Alonso.
In his adaptation to the premier category of motorsports, Tsunoda has gone through various stages characterized by a way of being sometimes too aggressive on the radio, a talent to polish that undoubtedly made Helmut Marko and the Red Bull leadership notice him to give him a chance.
Not yet
For its part, charles leclerc has chosen to delay the inevitable: after being forced to retire in Baku due to a failure that caused smoke in his F1-75, just when he was leading the Grand Prix, the Monegasque is aware that will have to penalize when using a new turbo.
However, the #16 will set up his 3rd combustion engine of the season, like the 3rd MGU-H and MGU-K, with a 2nd ECU that allows you to get the most out of your car, while not modifying exhausts or turbo.
The one who was the leader of the championship until the resurgence of Max Verstappen and Red Bull will therefore have a clear option to get the pole position on Saturday, with the intention of finally turning it into a victory on Sunday once and for all.