FIA make crucial Hungarian GP track change after Yuki Tsunoda’s dramatic qualifying crash

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As pressure mounts on Sergio Perez to improve his results, attention turned to Yuki Tsunoda during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Japanese driver made it through to Q3 in the Visa CashApp RB and was on course for a top-nine start, but a dramatic crash put an end to his chances during the final runs.

Tsunoda was attempting to improve his first lap when he went wide on the exit of Turn 5 on the slightly damp track, causing him to take to the grass and hit a ridge where it connects to the concrete run-off.

This sent his RB into an airborne moment into the barriers, ending what was looking like a promising attempt for one of the drivers who could replace Perez if the Mexican fails to improve his form.

The dramatic crash has led to the FIA to make a slight change to the circuit on safety grounds in the updated Race Director notes, given the airborne moment suffered by Tsunoda.

FIA Race Director makes Hungarian GP track change

FIA Race Director Niels Wittich issued an updated version of his event notes which showed that a change had been made overnight to the Hungaroring circuit.

The updated version notes that a strip of gravel has now been added where the join between the concrete and grass strip happens.

“The last 4.0 m of the grass strip behind the exit kerb in turn 5 on LHS have been replaced with gravel,” read the change.

The strip of grass was one of two changes made to the track to police track limits, with another also added to Turn 11.

RB expected to repair Yuki Tsunoda’s car for the race

The crash caused significant damage to the front and rear of Tsunoda’s car and it remains to be seen whether RB end up taking penalties as a result of the crash.

RB head of vehicle performance Guillaume Dezoteux said in the team’s press release following qualifying that he expects the team will repair the car in time for the race.

READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Tsunoda is provisionally set to start the race from 10th on the grid behind teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who improve his lap with a final run after the session restarted.

RB has been warned that it could ‘plummet’ if they fail to understand their most recent car upgrades in the next two Grands Prix, as they battle for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with Aston Martin.