The Alpha Tauri rider, a fan of Alonso, wants to get a podium finish for his country, Japan, ten years after the last
In his debut season, in 2021, he almost made history and no one noticed. It happened in the last race of the year, in Abu Dhabi. Behind the tremendous lo between max verstappen and lewis hamilton in the fight for the title, Yuki Tsunoda finished fourth less than a second behind third, Carlos Sainz, and touched a memorable podium for his country with his fingers. From Kamui Kobayashi in 2012, no Japanese has celebrated with champagne in Formula 1. The Alpha Tauri driver, a devoted admirer of Fernando AlonsoHe wants to break that streak sooner rather than later despite the problems with his car in recent months and a character that does not fit into the Great Circus.
- He seems shy. How do you manage under the spotlights of Formula 1?
- It’s hard. For me it is the most difficult of all. The jump from Formula 2 to Formula 1 didn’t seem very complicated to me because the cars are very similar, but everything that surrounds the two competitions is very different. Until a few months ago I suffered a little. I used up all my energy on interviews and would arrive tired on the run. Now I think I’ve gotten used to it, I relax and try to enjoy it.
- Can you make friends in the paddock?
- It also costs. I am not one of the most talkative drivers in the World Cup. To tell you the truth, there are few pilots who greet me, who chat with me.
- It costs more to get to Formula 1 from Japan.
- Definitely. First of all because in Japan we don’t drive single-seaters until we are 16 years old, two years later than in Europe, so we have a big disadvantage. But above all because when we get to Formula 3 we don’t know most of the circuits. In a very short time we have to get used to adapting to tracks that European riders have already learned and that conditions us. On the other hand, in Japan there is a long tradition in motor sports and good schools.
- What was the most difficult moment on your way here?
- It was in 2016 when I was in the Honda pilot academy. The best two were going to enter the Formula 4 team and I was the leader, but in the last race, which was worth double, I failed. I stayed out. Luckily one of the teachers, Kazuki Nakajima, who was a Formula 1 driver, trusted me and recommended Honda to help me. Without him I would not be here. I owe him a large part of my career.
- Alpha Tauri seems to be suffering this season.
- We need some improvements, but the team is still great. When I arrived in 2021 we were fighting to be among the four best teams, but with the regulatory changes it is not taking place. I am confident that at some point we will reach the performance we are looking for. Personally I am happy this year [ha sumado puntos en Australia y Azerbaiyn, donde acab dcimo] because I am giving my 100%. That is my goal. And so the results will come.
- What is your highest aspiration in Formula 1?
- I want to be world champion. I am 23 years old and that is my goal. All of us here want the same thing.
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