When Fernando Alonso debuted in Formula 1 from the hand of MinardYo In 2001, there were drivers on the current grid who hadn’t even learned to ride.
In fact, Oscar Piastrihis pupil in Alpinenor was he born. logan sergeant and Yuki Tsunoda they were barely a year old, while Lando Norris and guanyu zhou only two candles had blown out.
Many grew up admiring Alonso and dreaming of one day being like him, but none of them imagined that, if they reached F1, they would compete wheel to wheel with the two-time world champion.
If a few days ago it was Zhou the one who surrendered to Fernandonow it has been Tsunoda the one who has praised the figure of the Asturian.
Speaking to the official Formula 1 podcast, ‘Beyond the Grid’, the Japanese recalled the lesson he learned from the current Formula 1 driver Aston Martin when I ran for Alpine.
It was in the Hungarian Grand Prix with a Historic defense against Lewis Hamilton’s superior Mercedeswhich in the end ended up being worth to Esteban Ocon to take what so far is his only victory in Formula 1.
“It was the race in which Lewis started the grid by himself and everyone pitted. Due to his wrong strategy he had to try to overtake everyone. When he got to me, logically, I tried to defend myself as much as possible but it happened to melike in four laps”, he started.
“Fernando was at Alpine then, with a car that had more or less the same performance as my AlphaTauri, he was defending 10 laps from Lewis. I don’t remember if he got past her at the end [sí lo logró, pero ya sin tiempo para llegar hasta Ocon]. I watched that race again later because Alonso impressed meTsunoda added.
So, he took paper and a pen to find out how he had done it: “I sought to understand the way in which he tried to take advantage of the Mercedes. Even though it was a faster car. The last corner in Hungary is very difficult because you need downforce and you can’t be very close to the car in front because of the dirty air, and I knew that Fernandoto. He was trying to win as much as possible in the last few corners to take advantage of that so that he couldn’t pass him in 1 or 2, which is where there is usually some option.”
In fact, he came to apply it in the later Turkish Grand Prix: “There I had to defend myself against Hamilton again and I did it differently, trying to copy what Fernando did, and I was able to hold my own for eight laps this time“.
Future Red Bull driver?
A few weeks ago, Franz Tosthead of AlphaTauri, stated that Tsunoda would be the next Red Bull driver once ‘Checo’ Pérez’s contract ends.
“All I can say is that Yuki is on the right track and has improved in all aspects. But I think he should drive for AlphaTauri again in 2024. In 2025, I think he will finally be ready for Red Bull. Now Pérez has a contract and will have to wait,” he said.
