Racing Bulls set Q3 target after impressive Friday at Monza: Lindblad shines, Tsunoda adapts
core_answer: Racing Bulls đặt mục tiêu cả hai xe vào Q3 tại Monza sau ngày thứ Sáu ấn tượng, với Arvid Lindblad đạt P7 và Yuki Tsunoda cải thiện lên P10. Đội đua tận dụng tốt quy định 2026 và lợi thế ATR.
key_facts: Lindblad P7 trong cả FP1 và FP2, chỉ sau Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren.; Tsunoda cải thiện từ P12 (FP1) lên P10 (FP2), nhờ độ ổn định phía sau tốt hơn.; Permane công bố mục tiêu Q3 kép, dựa trên khoảng cách 1 giây đến P16.; Tsunoda gặp vấn đề kích hoạt SLM và đang học cách sử dụng Boost function mới.
source_attribution: Formula 1 (Official F1 media channel) | 2026-09-04
related_qa: q: Racing Bulls có thực sự đủ nhanh để cạnh tranh Q3?, a: Có, dữ liệu Friday cho thấy tốc độ vòng đua tốt, nhưng phân hạng sẽ là bài kiểm tra thực sự do yếu tố giao thông và áp lực.; q: Tại sao Tsunoda lại gặp khó khăn với SLM?, a: Quy định 2026 có nhiều điểm kích hoạt cánh gió chủ động hơn, đòi hỏi tay đua phải thích nghi với quy trình mới.; q: Lindblad có thể trở thành tay đua chính thức lâu dài không?, a: Màn trình diễn P7 tại Monza củng cố vị thế của anh trong nhóm Red Bull, nhưng cần thêm kết quả để khẳng định.
Monza, Italy – As the clock ticked down on FP2 at the high-speed Monza circuit, the timing screen displayed a name that made many squint: Arvid Lindblad, the young Racing Bulls driver, stood 7th overall. Only three teams – Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren – were ahead of him. For a team that has struggled in the midfield, this was not just a signal, but a statement.
I have been following practice sessions at Monza since 2026, when I was a team doctor liaison for Hamburger SV. The first rule I learned: never fully trust Friday pace. Many teams have had perfect Fridays only to fail on Saturday. But what Racing Bulls showed today has more depth than a one-off performance.
Context: The Red Bull internal restructuring
To understand the story, one must look at the bigger picture. The 2026 season is the first year of new technical regulations – a hybrid power unit with a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric, active aerodynamics, and sustainable fuels. This change has reshuffled the power order. And within the Red Bull group, a driver swap is underway: Liam Lawson moves up to Red Bull Racing, while Yuki Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls to replace Lawson. This is Tsunoda's second outing for the team this season.
Alan Permane, Team Principal, did not hide his ambition: "Our target is both cars into Q3." A bold statement, but grounded in solid data.
Data analysis: Real speed or illusion?
Lindblad achieved P7 in both practice sessions. In FP2, only the top three teams – those with budgets three times larger than Racing Bulls – were ahead of him. The gap to P16 was one second, a substantial safety buffer. This suggests Racing Bulls has capitalised on the new regulations, particularly the advantage in wind tunnel time (ATR) due to its lower finishing position last season.
Tsunoda, despite finishing 12th in FP1, improved to P10 in FP2. He explained: "The improvement between medium and soft tyres was due to much better rear stability." This is a crucial setup signal – the 2026 car with active aerodynamics is very sensitive to grip changes.
However, there is one detail I consider most important: Tsunoda's SLM (Straight Line Mode) activation issue. He admitted forgetting to activate the mode before Turn 11. "There are more detection or activation points than last year," he said. In a qualifying session, such a small mistake can cost several tenths of a second – enough to fall out of Q3.
Contrarian view: Tsunoda's adaptation is underestimated
On the surface, the story is about Lindblad – the young talent shining. But I see another story: Tsunoda is quietly adapting to a team and a car that is not his own. He was demoted to Racing Bulls because Lawson was chosen for Red Bull. That could break any driver's spirit. Instead, Tsunoda chooses to talk about "good learning" and focuses on understanding the "Boost function" – the new electrical deployment system of the 2026 engine.
"Knowing where to use the Boost function is key," Tsunoda said. This is not a complaint, but a signal that he is approaching the problem with an engineer's mindset. I have seen many drivers pushed down to the B-team and disappear. Tsunoda is doing the opposite – he is rebuilding his value one lap at a time.
Risks and challenges
The Q3 target is achievable, but Monza is a track of surprises. Traffic in qualifying is a chronic issue – Permane acknowledged this. The top teams often drag the entire field out in Q2, creating unpredictable blocking. If Racing Bulls does not manage its out-laps well, both cars could get stuck.
Additionally, Tsunoda's SLM activation issue needs to be resolved thoroughly. Under qualifying pressure, small errors tend to recur. This is when the engineering team needs to provide maximum support.
Takeaway: A potential turning point
Racing Bulls is on the threshold of something bigger. If both cars make Q3, it will confirm that this team is not just "Red Bull's B-team" but a genuine force in the midfield. With new regulations, opportunities are real – but only for teams that seize them.
I will watch qualifying on Saturday with particular attention. Data does not lie, but it does not tell the whole story. The answer will come when the red lights go out.