Yuki Tsunoda laments Red Bull 'core limitation' in 'hell' admission

Yuki Tsunoda pointed to the "core limitation" of his Red Bull to explain his shock early elimination from qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Japanese driver will line up P20 - and last - at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after battling against a lack of "overall grip", which is what he suggested was that main limitation.

Having cycled through various set ups to no avail and finishing the three free practice sessions in ninth, P13 and P14 respectively, he was half a second slower than Max Verstappen and quarter of a second shy of the knockout line in Q1, leaving him consigned to his fate.

It left him questioning how his pace has dropped "like hell" this weekend, having been making progress towards his team-mate's high bar.

"Until the previous grand prix, especially until Monaco, I was having good progress throughout," Tsunoda told media including RacingNews365.

"Last two grand prix, in some sessions I was matching or a bit faster than Max and suddenly it drops like hell. 

"Whatever I do nothing happens. Every lap - even long run was a good example. Just whatever I do, nothing happens and it feels like this car is eating the tyres like hell, having degradation massively.

"It doesn't really stack up. I think the core limitation is still there and I don't know what it is and I can't really have any answer for that."

Unable to 'cure the core limitation'

Tsunoda expects the aforementioned "core limitation" will still plague his RB21 during the race in Spain, but is nonetheless targetting a top 10 finish.

"I'll try my best... What I can do to be in top 10, I'll do," the 25-year-old said.

"But the thing is, I don't think we were able to cure the core limitation since FP2, which was like really lap by lap just tyres degrading. So in that sense it will be tough realistically. 

"But hopefully with a couple of set up changes we'll make it a little bit better, but other than that let's see how it goes."

However, when asked if that opens the door for a pit lane start and more substantive changes, Tsunoda said he does not see much point in taking that route unless Red Bull can identify - and cure - what is causing the core limitation.