Epic Off-Road Duel Sets Stage for Austrian Grand Prix.
In a delightfully unexpected detour leading up to theAustrian Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda, Japan’s rising star, claimed an impressive victory over two time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen in an exhilarating off-road race held at the formidable Erzberg mine.
The win backs up Yuki’s victory during May’s Miami Grand Prix week, where he downed Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo in a mini jet boat race.
The event was a part of the (Un)Serious Race Series, where teams from Scuderia AlphaTauriand Oracle Red Bull Racing embrace the unpredictable, trading their usual high-tech Formula1 cars for, in this case, mega trucks. These monolithic machines, three meters tall, five meters long, and with a heart-stopping 500 horsepower, provided a unique challenge for the racers.
Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the operational Erzberg mine, known as the ‘IronGiant’, the race was as much about the stunning location as it was about the fear some vehicles. The track was a whimsical interpretation of the Red Bull Ring, boasting three key areas: ‘The Car Yard’, ‘The Swimming Pool’ and ‘The Big Drift’.
Verstappen, known for his consistent performances throughout the 2023 Formula 1 WorldChampionship, started strong with a thrilling qualifying round, earning the pole position with a three-second lead over Tsunoda.
In the race Yuki rocketed out of second position, taking the lead into turn one and never looked back. Conversely, Max was dealt nothing but misfortune, his truck suffering a misfire and he could only trail Yuki home.
“Max had an amazing lap in quali, he was three seconds ahead. I thought ‘Ok, maybe I need to push more throttle,” Yuki recalled of his race strategy. “Max’s strong qualifying round was a wake-up call for me to dig deep. I had a good start and used my momentum to the end. Unfortunately, he had a bit of misfiring…well actually I put a bit of water into his engine, but don’t tell anyone! The strategy worked, and I wanted to defend my first place from the first Unserious Race Series with Daniel.”
Verstappen approached the outcome with good humor. “We’re known for embracing these out-of-the-box challenges. This was just another adventure to add to our ever-growing list,” he commented, likening it to other adventures in Swamp Buggies, Reverse Racing and CaravanRacing, among others. “I’ve never really done anything properly offroad. I have driven my dad’s rally car, but that was more on the tarmac. Honestly, the approach of my qualifying lap was to survive! It was a lot of fun.”
With the off-road race now behind them, both racers are shifting their focus back to the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.
“The Austrian race has been good to us, and the track has a unique charm,” Verstappen said. “The expansive visibility from the grandstands creates a remarkable atmosphere.”
Tsunoda shared similar thoughts, stating, “I’ve had some good runs in Austria, even managing to score points in my debut race. I’m hopeful that this fun run at Erzberg will give me a boost for this year’s Austrian Grand Prix.”
The (Un)Serious Race Series will continue later this season. Yuki and Scuderia AlphaTauri are now back-to-back winners, with Oracle Red Bull Racing being in the unfamiliar position as the hunter, not the hunted.