Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda expects to be a “sitting” duck in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix after qualifying a distant 12th on the grid🏅.

Tsunoda was in strong form heading into the grid-deciding session on Satur💖day, having finished inside the top 10 in final practice at Monte Carlo.

But although only 13 drivers took part in the Q2 session, with both Mercedes cars force𒀰d out due to unrelated issues, Tsunoda failed to secure a berth in the fin൲al part of qualifying.

The 25-year-old appeared angry with Red Bull over team radio in the immediate aftermath of his Q2 elimination, although it꧒ wasn’t clear♐ what exactly he was incensed about.

Speaking afterwards in the media pen, the Japanese driver said he had the pace to keep up with his F1 teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen - who qualified fifth - over the weekend.

“The pace was there throughout the week,” he said.” Apart from the sessions that I always got traffic or didn’t get a lap, I was running pr🎃etty close with Max.

“So that shows t💙he pace was there, the focus was t𝓡here. Also was a very clean race week. So very frustrating again.

He a🧸dded: “The car was better. [In FP3], I didn't really have any lap on the softs. But even though I had flat-spotted the medium compound I was running very 💞close with Max. It was pretty good.”

With overtaking opportunities limited around the tight and twisty streets of Monaco, Tsunoda is𝔍 bracing himself for a difficult race for himself on Sunday.

Asked what he feels about starting in the midfield, Tsunoda added: “Some teams in front are going to do𓆉 something interesting stuff. I don't think it's gonna be straightforward. It's hard to predict as well. I will do my best.

“To be honest in this position you are almost a sitting duck, a sitting passenger almost 🙈to the car behind.

“I will try to overtake but there's ಌalways risks here as well. If I see an opportunity, I wi꧂ll go for it.”