Yuki Tsunoda pinpoints 'positive' Max Verstappen development in latest setback

Yuki Tsunoda has highlighted that he is "closer" to Max Verstappen at the Hungaroring, despite suffering yet another Q1 elimination in his Red Bull.

It is the fourth time the Japanese driver has failed to navigate safely through the first part of qualifying in his RB21 over the past eight rounds.

As such, he will line up for the Hungarian Grand Prix in P16. However, there is a silver lining to the latest dark cloud hanging gloomily over Tsunoda's disappointing season.

Throughout the weekend on the outskirts of Budapest, he has so far been closer to Verstappen, and sometimes ahead of his decorated team-mate, who qualified eighth quickest.

Nonetheless, Red Bull has struggled through the round, unable to make good on one of the Milton Keynes squad's usual Friday night turnarounds and consigning its drivers to disappointing grid positions.

When asked how difficult his car has been to drive, Tsunoda quickly pivoted away from explaining the troubling lack of grip to address a "positive" aspect of his weekend.

"I don't know," the 25-year-old told media, including RacingNews365. "The car balance itself is not that bad, but just the grip level that the car is providing is very, very low. It's not the level that we normally feel.

"Throughout the week, I think there was a positive from our side of the garage that we are consistently closer to Max. Some sessions, we were ahead.

"So, something to take a positive [from], but at the same time, it is not easy for our team."

Something to be 'proud' of

Tsunoda elaborated on the progress he has shown in Hungary, acknowledging he is "proud" of having closed the gap to the four-time F1 drivers' champion on the other side of the Red Bull garage.

He pointed out that Verstappen was himself almost knocked out of qualifying at the same stage.

Despite the 65-time grand prix winner successfully making it out of Q1 in P13, he was only 0.163 seconds quicker, the closest the gap between them has been all season.

"Obviously, Max is Max. But at the same time, definitely positive, like I said," Tsunoda stated. "I was very close to Max throughout the week. Some sessions ahead...

"So, I think, obviously, frustrating missing out on [getting through] Q1. But also, he was almost out as well. So, something that I can be proud of a little bit."