Yuki Tsunoda recognises Max Verstappen progress as huge challenge awaits

Yuki Tsunoda has recognised that he is getting closer to Max Verstappen, despite having failed to make the top 10 in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. 

The Japanese driver had been only one position behind Verstappen on Friday; however, faced an early qualifying elimination and starts from 12th on the grid at the Circuit de Monaco. 

Despite the disappointment of not progressing to the final part of qualifying, Tsunoda is confident that his pace in the RB21 is improving.

"Yeah, pace was there throughout the week," Tsunoda told select media, including RacingNews365. "Apart from the sessions where I always got traffic or didn't get a lap. 

"I was running pretty close with Max. So that shows the pace was there and confidence was there. It's also been a pretty clean race week, until qualifying. So very frustrating."

Whilst Tsunoda is becoming more comfortable in Red Bull, he faces a huge task to score any points at the Circuit de Monaco. 

He faces being caught up in the chaos of the brand-new mandatory two-stop rule, which will see a huge variation in strategies. 

However, overtaking in Monaco is also near impossible, yet he is prepared to go for it if a door opens.

"I don't know. I think every team, some teams in front, are going to do something interesting stuff," said Tsunoda, when asked for his plan to complete the mandatory two stops. 

"Yeah, I don't think it's going to be a straightforward [race], I think it's hard to predict as well. But, yeah, I'll do my best. 

"To be honest, [in this] position you're almost a sitting duck, a sitting passenger almost to the car behind.

"I try to overtake, but, obviously, there's always risk as well here. So if I see an opportunity, I'll go for it."