Tsunoda is “much more in control” this year
As he started his second season in Formula 1, Yuki Tsunoda reflected on the progress he has made after an inconsistent first season. The young Japanese driver claims to have better control over his car and his emotions.
Outrageously dominated last year by his teammate Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda is finding his form this season at AlphaTauri. The Japanese driver has scored points twice in the first four races, with a impressive seventh place finish at Imola highlighting a promising start to the season.
With ten points, the Japanese is doing much better than last year at the same time. It took him ten races in 2021 to reach this total. Most importantly, Tsunoda was concerning due to his inconsistency and easily avoidable mistakes. A flaw that the Japanese seems to have rectified in order to regain the momentum he had shown in the lower categories.
« Much more control, I would say,” explains Tsunoda to Autosport when asked what has changed. « Last year, at the same time, I didn’t have control over everything. I didn’t know what I was doing, you know? And with every lap, I was pushing to the limit, and that’s how things happen.
But actually, it made me progress, so it was really a good learning experience as a pilot. I went through a rough patch, but it’s also a good learning experience as a pilot. And I was able to move on to the next step, which is why I can score points today. So, I think compared to last year, I have taken a significant step, especially in terms of race pace, details the third place finisher in the F2 2020.
Tsunoda’s progress was already visible at the end of last season, where he managed to take fourth place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the year, after defeating Gasly in qualifying for the first time of the season. His best result so far in the premier category.
Red Bull’s protégé had also made a name for himself for his aggressiveness on the radio towards his opponents, as well as his engineers. An attitude that tended to rub people the wrong way in the AlphaTauri garage, but seems to be a thing of the past. This season, it’s a much calmer Yuki Tsunoda who communicates with his team.
(P) Maybe I am still screaming, I just don’t press the radio button. But I am still trying to be calmer. Of course, I respected the engineers before, but I think now I am trying even more to respect them. I realized that shouting on the radio is useless, it is better to say things calmly and move on to the next step. (F), reveals a seemingly more mature Tsunoda.
At the age of 21, the Japanese driver will start his 26th Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami, hoping to score points for the tenth time.
“>on a circuit that he already enjoys.”
