In a heart-stopping moment that perfectly encapsulated the raw intensity of Formula 1, Yuki Tsunoda just clipped the apex during FP2 at the Saudi Arabia grandpix— a move so precise it had engineers holding their breath and fans gasping trackside.
During the second free practice session, Tsunoda was threading his AlphaTauri through the circuit with laser-like focus. On what would turn out to be one of his fastest laps of the session, he approached Turn [insert turn number] with blistering pace, braking late but controlled, and committed fully to the line. What followed was a display of razor-sharp car control as his front-left tire brushed the inside apex curb by mere millimeters — the kind of commitment that separates the good from the great.
The moment, captured in slow-motion replays, showed just how fine the margins are in Formula 1. It wasn’t an overstep, nor was it cautious — it was precision engineering and driver instinct in perfect harmony. Tsunoda’s entry and exit through the corner were clean, aggressive, and right on the knife’s edge.
“That’s what we call a proper apex kiss,” said one of the commentators, audibly impressed. “He didn’t miss by a millimeter, and he didn’t overdo it. That’s how you extract every ounce of speed from the car.”
For Tsunoda and the team at Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri), FP2 has been critical in dialling in the balance ahead of the race weekend. With a tighter midfield than ever, every tenth counts — and moments like this show that Tsunoda is not just pushing; he’s dancing right on the limit.
Social media was quick to erupt, with fans sharing freeze-frames and zoomed-in shots of the moment, praising Tsunoda’s “samurai precision” and “balls-to-the-wall commitment.” One popular fan account tweeted: “Yuki clipped that apex like a sniper. Zero hesitation. Cold.”
Though it was just a practice session, the moment stands as a statement of intent. Tsunoda has often been the underdog, fighting to prove his mettle. But with moves like this, he’s proving not only that he has raw pace — but also the composure and technique to back it up.
Whether that apex brush was instinct, habit, or pure confidence, one thing’s for certain: Yuki Tsunoda is not here to play it safe.