Tsunoda: 'I can't say at the moment when those updates might come'

Alpha Tauri could not make a competiive effort in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, and although they went better in the race a day later, the Faenza-based team returned home pointless. Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda did not excel in the AT04, although that may also have had more to do with the car itself. The Japanese driver agreed that updates are needed soon to join the competitive midfield.

Alpha Tauri finished ninth in the Constructors' Championship last season. The hope was to fight for the top-five position again, but that is only vain hope at the moment. During the season opener, Tsunoda came close to Alexander Albon, who finished tenth and made off with the last point. He lacked top speed to make up ground.

On the straight in Bahrain, Alpha Tauri were 12 kilometres per hour slower on the straight than Williams. "That's already a lot. Without DRS, we have too much drag, and at the same time we don't have much grip to compensate for that drag. So, as I said, we need grip. Either grip or less drag," Tsunoda told the Italian branch of Motorsport.com.

Work to do for Alpha Tauri

The 22-year-old driver, who is in Formula 1 for the third season this year, said he kept getting close in the corners, but then lost ground on the straights. Tsunoda even explained that he was even slower with DRS open than Albon without DRS.

Updates are on the way, but: "I can't say at the moment when those updates might come, but it's just that we need them as soon as possible, absolutely. I know when they are coming, but I don't want to say," Tsunoda said.