A lesson learneda unexpected proposal… and a manifest admiration: every time Yuki Tsunoda talk about Fernando AlonsoHe talks like that young boy who fell in love with the Formula 1 15 years ago when the two-time champion was fighting for world titles.
In the official F1 podcast, the Japanese driver recalled the day the Asturian asked him to change helmets, when he took a master class from the Oviedo driver and the first time he saw Fernando.
“I respect all the drivers on the grid, but to Fernando to whom moreespecially because my father was a big fan of his, he admired him,” explains the Japanese.
The first time he saw Alonso live was at the Japan Grand Prix: “When I was 12 years old we used to sit in the gallery of the Suzuka final cornerwhich is not an easy point because you cannot go to the bottom easily”.
There, he began to notice the skill of the Aston Martin driver: “My father showed me how he drew it to the maximum on the outside, very close to the white line. And there if you touch the grass you go straight to the wall. But he was consistently sticking to the white line with a lot of movement from the rear of the car”.
Now, 10 years later, Tsunoda shares the grid with Alonso, something he would never have imagined: “I still can’t believe I’m racing with him, he’s incredible. I never would have expected it.”
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.
