Tost: Tsunoda did nothing wrong in Mexico F1 qualifying fracas

Tsunoda came under fire from Red Bull’s drivers and management after him running off track in the closing stages of Q3 was blamed for wrecking the final laps of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner claimed that his drivers "got Tsunoda'd" after Mercedes took a shock 1-2 in qualifying, with Valtteri Bottas leading Lewis Hamilton.

But Tost is adamant that Tsunoda did absolutely nothing wrong, and was absolutely right to dive off the circuit to try to get out of the way of the faster cars behind him.

“I absolutely don’t understand why Perez went also off the track there,” said Tost.

“Yuki went to the side as all the drivers do in qualifying to make a place for the cars that are coming behind, which are on a qualifying lap.

“He was not on a qualifying lap. It is as easy as that. Therefore I don’t understand anything about this.”

Analysis: Why Tsunoda wasn’t at fault in Mexico F1 qualifying controversy

Tost explained that Tsunoda was fully aware that faster cars were approaching him, and that the Japanese youngster decided that the best way for him to get out of the way was to run off track.

“We told him on the radio that the Red Bulls are coming, and he just went off the track so they could pass easily,” said Tost.

“Perez followed him. It is not Yuki’s fault.

Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT02, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

“He didn’t make a mistake, he did it deliberately.

“We said to him the Red Bulls are coming, that Perez is coming and he deliberately went to the side not to disturb them or be in front of them.”

While Tsunoda is one of four drivers starting from the back of the grid because of an engine change penalty, along with Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, AlphaTauri pushed for him to get through to Q3 so he could give team-mate Pierre Gasly a slipstream.

Tost added: “He gave a tow to Pierre, it is as easy as that. We wanted him to be in front of Norris. That is why he was out.”

Tsunoda himself was surprised that his rivals were unhappy with what he did, and maintained that he did all he could to get out of their way.

Writing on social media he said: “Happy with my quali today. However in the end there is nothing more I could have done in that situation.

“Tomorrow we will fight for every place.”