Yuki Tsunoda secured a hard-fought P9 finish in Hungary, pulling off an audacious but effective one-stop strategy. However, his most headline-grabbing moment from last weekend was his crash in qualifying. VCARB have revealed that Tsunoda’s impact during the incident was a staggering 68G.
Tsunoda recovers from massive 68G impact
The drivers at Red Bull and VCARB are under greater scrutiny than at any point in recent seasons.
Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo are both vying for a potential Red Bull seat, with the reigning Champions seriously reconsidering their decision to retain Sergio Perez.
Heading into the summer break, both VCARB drivers are under pressure to deliver the best possible results.
Doing this can put them in contention for a Red Bull promotion, potentially even in a mid-season swap.
Given that Tsunoda has been the team’s top performer in 2024, he aims to build momentum for the mid-season stoppage.
Tsunoda’s weekend in Hungary was at its most turbulent in qualifying when a patch of grass launched the 24-year-old into the air.
Luckily, he managed to recover on Sunday and deliver another performance characterised by speed and consistency.
What has only recently been revealed, however, is the extent of his impact during Saturday’s crash.
VCARB reveal details of crash
In the aftermath of the incident, VCARB (Racing Bulls) have provided some insights:
“Our Japanese driver was on a blisteringly fast lap in the shoot-out for the top 10 places on the grid.
“But it came to a sudden and dramatic end, when he got one wheel on the wet grass at the exit to Turn 5, totally destroying his VCARB 01.
“Truth be told, the subsequent red flag also spoilt Daniel’s chances of grabbing a higher grid slot.
“Thanks to the sport’s incredibly high safety standards, Yuki was able to walk away unscathed from this 68 g impact. And would, therefore, start the Grand Prix from tenth, one place behind Daniel.”
An impact of 68 G-force is a staggering figure, and explains why the Japanese driver was spotted limping as he exited his VCARB 01 after the chequered flag in Hungary.
Tsunoda was understandably shaken from a crash of such magnitude.
For reference, Romain Grosjean’s infamous incident in Bahrain was recorded at 67 Gs.
The 24-year-old’s ability to walk away from the crash and compete in the race on Sunday is a testament to F1’s safety standards.
Moreover, it is proof of Tsunoda’s tenacity as he continues putting together an impressive campaign.
