Yuki Tsunoda doesn’t want to make any “high expectations’ of catching Aston Martin in terms of performance, amid the upgraded spec RB machine being introduced for this weekend’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
The Faenza-based RB outfit sits sixth in the Constructors’ standings with 28 points, 21 clear of seventh-placed Haas and 30 back from fifth-placed Aston Martin.
Aston Martin is known to struggle in the development race, something which didn’t plague RB during the latter half of last season as it concluded its days under the AlphaTauri banner.
This weekend, RB is bringing a revised floor, bodywork and rear wing and Tsunoda was asked whether his team can gain ground on its Silverstone-based rivals with the extensive upgrade package.
“I don’t want to make any high expectations here or anything, so I wouldn’t say how much it will be, but the upgrade seems for sure to give some step forward in general, at least what I experienced in the simulator,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week on Thursday.
“I don’t feel [many] characteristic changes, it just feels the general [aerodynamic] load got better, which is a good sign.
“Obviously, we have to check on the track, but for sure I feel something.”
On that note, RB Technical Director Joey Egginton predicts a busy Friday practice for the team as it gets to grips with the numerous upgrades on the car.
“There have been intensive preparations in the simulator and offline tools to prepare for this event,” said Eggington.
“A significant amount of work was put in by Faenza and Bicester to prepare and deliver an aerodynamic update consisting of a floor, bodywork and rear wing for both cars, to provide a measurable performance benefit.
“As a result of having this update, the Friday sessions will be especially busy, in order to gather and process as much data as possible and get ready for Saturday onwards.”
Tsunoda also pointed out that the team will need to focus the upgrades on delivering RB performance in high-speed corners across F1’s triple-header at Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone.
“I think our strengths were more towards low speed, so now we need a higher speed corner load I would say and that we tend to always kind of struggle at,” the Japanese driver said.
“Especially the coming races, there’s quite a lot of high-speed corner characteristic layouts. So we focus on that, but in general we’re not so bad, but it’s more towards high speed that we want to focus more.”
