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# Tsunoda forced to start French GP from pitlane after shunt
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/tsunoda-forced-to-start-french-gp-from-pitlane-after-shunt/
- Published: 2021-06-20T11:40:27.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-16T16:29:07.000Z
- Description: Formula 1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda will start the French Grand Prix from the pitlane because of changes made after his qualifying crash
- Author: Scott Mitchell-Malm
- Tags: Formula 1, #image-top-left

Formula 1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda will start the French Grand Prix from the pitlane because of changes made as a consequence of his qualifying crash, but fellow qualifying shunter Mick Schumacher will avoid a similar fate.

The AlphaTauri driver lost control of his car exiting Turn 1 on his first run in the first part of qualifying.

He was able to restart the car after rear-ending the barrier fairly lightly but was unable to engage first gear and get going again.

Tsunoda was due to start 20th as a result, while team-mate Pierre Gasly qualified sixth.

![Motor Racing Formula One World Championship French Grand Prix Qualifying Day Paul Ricard, France](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2021/06/XPB_1092438_HiRes.jpg)

But AlphaTauri has had to replace his floor with one a different specification and has also made some suspension changes, which necessitates a pitlane start.

Tsunoda also has a new gearbox, for which the usual five-place grid penalty is now redundant.

The error comes after he had finally ended a point-less streak in which several errors had [prompted Red Bull to relocate him from the UK to Italy to be closer to his team.](https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/monaco-crash-prompted-red-bull-to-move-tsunoda-to-italy/)

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2021/06/SI202106040245_news-300x200.jpg)](https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-risk-and-reward-with-f1-super-talent-tsunoda/)

The risk and reward with F1 ‘super talent’ Tsunoda

[Read more](https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-risk-and-reward-with-f1-super-talent-tsunoda/)

He had pledged to make it up to AlphaTauri by making up as much ground as possible in the grand prix.

“It was my mistake and I want to apologise to the team,” said Tsunoda after his error.

“I just used too much of the yellow kerb and I spun out. I tried to brake as much as possible to avoid contact with the barrier, but it was like skating on ice as I was going backwards.

“It was fairly low impact, but there is some damage to the car so the team will have to work hard to get me ready.

![Motor Racing Formula One World Championship French Grand Prix Qualifying Day Paul Ricard, France](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2021/06/XPB_1092626_HiRes.jpg)

“The best way to thank the team would be to have a good race tomorrow.

“It’s difficult to overtake here but I’ll push as hard as I can every lap and use every opportunity I get.”

The Red Bull and AlphaTauri drivers recieved brand-new Honda power units prior to the weekend, as did the Renault-powered Alpine drivers. The Mercedes and Ferrari powered teams changed their engines last time out in Baku.

![Motor Racing Formula One World Championship French Grand Prix Qualifying Day Paul Ricard, France](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2021/06/XPB_1092499_HiRes.jpg)

Another crash victim in qualifying, Haas’s Mick Schumacher, appears to have avoided any penalty-inducing repairs.

Schumacher avoided Q1 elimination for the first time in his F1 career after setting the 14th-fastest time but that was aided by him crashing on his final run and sparking a red flag, which prevented others from improving.

He did not take part in Q2 as a result of the crash and there was some concern over his gearbox but the team seemed confident it would be OK and there has been no notification of a replacement in the FIA’s declaration of parc ferme issues ahead of the race..