Formula 1

YUKI TSUNODA SETS SIGHTS ON FIRST JAPANESE WIN IN FORMULA 1

Published

2 years ago

20/02/2021

YUKI TSUNODA SETS SIGHTS ON FIRST JAPANESE WIN IN FORMULA 1

Tsunoda has risen from Formula 4 through Formula 1 in just three years, securing a promotion to AlphaTauri after placing third, as top rookie, in Formula 2.

The Japanese racer, who is backed by Honda, will make his Formula 1 debut this season after a very impressive rookie campaign in Formula 2, taking three races wins as he battled with Ferrari Driver Academy members Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott for the 2020 title.

Of the three Formula 1 rookies ready to compete in the 2021 season, Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda is perhaps the hungriest of all. With bucket loads of talent and ambitions to become the first of his countrymen to win a grand prix, the twenty-year-old certainly has high hopes for his first year in F1.

Now confirmed to race alongside Frenchman Pierre Gasly at Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 Team, the youngster is set to become the twenty-first driver from Japan to enter a world championship race at the pinnacle of motorsport.

His career at the top of single-seaters- whilst being incredibly short- shows spectacular ability and promise, as the rookie has graduated from almost every previous open-wheel series in his first year of competition.

Just last year, Tsunoda took part in his maiden season of FIA Formula 2– fighting against the likes of established racers and talents such as Mick Schumacher, Luca Ghiotto and Guanyu Zhou.

In a display of remarkable ability, the Japanese driver claimed an outstanding third in the championship, prompting Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri to contact him for a 2021 F1 drive in the latter team.

Speaking about his rather quick rise through the junior ranks, Tsunoda appreciated that his inaugural year was a whirlwind one, but admitted that ‘some luck’ was in play to make his ‘dream come true.’

“To reach Formula 1- which was my final goal as a driver – you don’t just have to deliver results, you also need luck, and this is something you can’t control. So, from my side, I knew I always had to give my best at all times.” Tsunoda divulged.

“It was in my hands to stand out and impress the bosses, who can make your dream come true. In every series, you need to develop a strong pace very quickly, so I was committed to doing well right from the start of my career. It was good to show what I could achieve in my inaugural year in F2 and I’m so happy to have graduated to F1 so quickly.”

Tsunoda referred to F2 as ‘a good warm-up for F1’, but said he ‘can’t wait’ to race in the big league. The proud Japanese national is ‘particularly excited’ to race at Suzuka (his home track) where he has only competed once in Formula 4.

“I’m really excited to get started and am particularly looking forward to racing in Suzuka, in front of the Japanese fans, and I’m really excited to now get the opportunity to represent my country in F1.