Yuki Tsunoda’s heavy crash at the end of yesterday’s qualifying session has prompted further changes to the run-off area at turn five where he went off.
The RB driver’s car was launched into the air when he ran wide onto a two-and-a-half metre wide strip of grass at the exit of the corner. Tsunoda ran along the length of the grass strip when he drifted wide on his final flying lap in Q3 and his car appeared to be pitched upwards at the point where the end of the grass strip met the asphalt turn-off.
The Hungaroring operators made changes to the run-off ahead of Sunday’s action at the track. The final four metres of the grass run-off have been replaced with gravel.
Tsunoda did not believe he had made a significant error when he ran wide at the corner. “I was comfortably within the track,” he said. “I was on the limit, obviously, in Q3.
“Half of the tyre went on the grass, but with that kind of thing, it normally happens probably because it was wet, which kind of exaggerated it and I went wide.”
RB’s head of performance Guillaume Dezoteux said yesterday they expect to be able to repair the car but it remains to be seen whether they will incur any penalties which might compromise his 10th place starting position.
“There is a lot of work ahead for the mechanics, but we are confident we will get the car ready for the race tomorrow,” said Dezoteux. “His lap was looking very strong up to that point, so it’s disappointing but luckily, he’s okay.
The grass strip at turn five was one of two additions made to the Hungaroring this year in an effort to better enforce track limits. A strip of gravel was added to the exit of turn 11, but no further changes have been made there.
The FIA has added similar grass and gravel strips at other circuits this season in an effort to prevent drivers gaining time by exceeding track limits. Similar changes were also made at the Shanghai International Circuit and Red Bull Ring.
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2024 Hungarian Grand Prix
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