Tsunoda: I did everything to hold up Hamilton for Verstappen
Yuki Tsunoda tried fending off Lewis Hamilton “as much as possible” early in the Turkish Grand Prix to help Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 title hopes in Honda’s final season.
Honda-backed youngster Tsunoda reached Q3 for the third time this season at Istanbul Park on Saturday, and started well to sit eighth early on ahead of Hamilton.
The AlphaTauri driver was able to keep Hamilton back for a number of laps with some solid defence, stalling the Mercedes’ driver’s recovery from a grid penalty that meant he started 11th.
But Hamilton was eventually able to make a pass on lap eight around the outside of Turn 3, with Tsunoda then dropping out of the points after spinning on lap 22.
Tsunoda explained that he “used too much tyre early on” in the fight with Hamilton, but that he wanted to do everything he could to help Honda-powered Verstappen’s title bid for Red Bull before the Japanese manufacturer’s exit from F1 at the ned of the year.
“I want Max to win in the last year of Honda, and for Red Bull as well,” Tsunoda said. “So I tried to hold Lewis up as much as possible, for I don't know how many laps. I was trying to save more of my tyre.
“I tried to hold him behind for 20 laps. Eight laps is not enough.”
Hamilton would go on to finish the race fifth for Mercedes, meaning Verstappen regained the championship lead by six points with six races remaining.
Tsunoda crossed the line 14th in the end, and lamented the spin after believing he had the pace to score points.
He explained that the dirty spray - something also noted by Nikita Mazepin and Lando Norris - made him think a car was close behind, prompting him to push harder.
“I couldn't see anything because of dirt and dust,” Tsunoda said. “I just couldn't see, I thought there was a car right behind me so I just have to push, and I spun.
“The spin ruined my whole race so it's a shame. We [would have been] able to score points so, yeah, just a shame.”
Tsunoda also rued the lost points as AlphaTauri pushed to catch Alpine for fifth place in the constructors’ championship, with the gap standing at 12 points after Turkey.
“It was an opportunity to get us big points compared to other teams,” he said.
Related video
Previous article
Alonso sorry for Schumacher F1 clash early in Turkish GP
Next article
Norris: "Scary" spray made Turkish GP F1 much harder
Why McLaren's expanding agenda will benefit its F1 resurgence
In the 1960s and 1970s, McLaren juggled works entries in F1, sportscars and the Indy 500 while building cars for F3 and F2. Now it’s returning to its roots, expanding into IndyCars and Extreme E while continuing its F1 renaissance. There’s talk of Formula E and WEC entries too. But is this all too much, too soon? Stuart Codling talks to the man in charge.
How Tsunoda plans to achieve his F1 potential
Yuki Tsunoda arrived in grand prix racing amid a whirlwind of hype, which only increased after his first race impressed the biggest wigs in Formula 1. His road since has been rocky and crash-filled, and OLEG KARPOV asks why Red Bull maintains faith in a driver who admits he isn’t really that big a fan of F1?
The danger of reading too much into F1's clickbait radio messages
OPINION: After Lewis Hamilton responded to reports labelling him 'furious' with Mercedes following his heated exchanges over team radio during the Russian Grand Prix, it provided a snapshot on how Formula 1 broadcasting radio snippets can both illuminate and misrepresent the true situation
How F1’s pole winner approach undermines drivers
OPINION: Valtteri Bottas is credited with pole position for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, despite being beaten in qualifying. This is another example of Formula 1 and the FIA scoring an own goal by forgetting what makes motorsport magic, with the Istanbul race winner also a victim of this in the championship’s recent history
Turkish Grand Prix driver ratings
On a day that the number two Mercedes enjoyed a rare day in the sun, the Turkish Grand Prix produced several standout drives - not least from a driver who has hit a purple patch of late
The hidden factors that thwarted Hamilton's bid for Turkey glory
Starting 11th after his engine change grid penalty, Lewis Hamilton faced a tough task to repeat his Turkish Grand Prix heroics of 2020 - despite making strong early progress in the wet. Instead, his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas broke through for a first win of the year to mitigate Max Verstappen re-taking the points lead
How pitstops evolved into an F1 art form
A Formula 1 pitstop is a rapid-fire blend of high technology and human performance. PAT SYMONDS describes how the science of margin gains makes stops so quick
Why Mercedes' Istanbul edge is both stronger and weaker than it seems
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton dominated the opening day of action for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, on the Istanbul circuit’s much improved track surface. But the Black Arrows squad’s position isn’t quite what it seems. Here’s why...
