Yuki Tsunoda

## Career Overview

### **AlphaTauri (2022-Present)**

At the age of 22, F2 graduate Yuki Tsonoda stepped up to F1 after a difficult but encouraging F2 campaign with Carlin last year. Tsonoda also came in with Honda backing, and the Japanese mega cooperation were keen to keep hold of him, after realizing their mistake of underutilizing now multi-time race winner Nobuharu Matsushita with compatriot rivals Toyota. Sergio Sette Camara leaving the team and the Red Bull family presented the perfect opportunity to bring in the first driver born in the 21st Century into F1.

Tsunoda had an excellent debut outing. The Japanese rookie qualified inside the top 10, and went on to run competitively in the race, finishing in 9th. Tsunoda also secured a point in Round 2, his home race at Japan. The upward trend in results continued at Australia. The Japanese driver finishing in 5th. Tsunoda had another strong race at Singapore, finishing 7th.

Tsunoda survived a chaotic United States Grand Prix to secure a point, ahead of both Aston Martins and Max Verstappen!

Tsunoda impressed many in the paddock, and took AlphaTauri's best finish of the season with 5th at Australia.

#### **2023**

Following a very impressive debut season, featuring a top five finish, Yuki Tsunoda has the full support of Honda and Red Bull. The Japanese silenced his critics who thought he was promoted too quickly from F2, by out performing the car and Pierre Gasly in the first half of last season.

Tsunoda got AlphaTauri through to Q2 for the first time at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and he went on to secure 11th place in the race.

Tsunoda was on the pace for the team's first home race of the season, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. In full wet conditions, the Japanese got through to Q3 for the first time this season to line up 7th. His pace carried over into the race. There was a bit of a queue forming behind Gasly by lap 4, and Magnussen wasn't sticking around and made a move past the Alpine. Tsunoda's pace was genuine this weekend and the Japanese was next to overtake Gasly. After the stops on lap 14-18, Tsunoda was still making the most of his excellent qualifying to hold down 7th making the most of the Mercedes and Sainz being down the order. Only Zhou would pass the AlphaTauri in the second stint. Tsunoda brought home 13 crucial points from the second Wildcard race of the season.

It was an extremely wet start to qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, but the sky was brightening up. Four big names were caught out in the transition from Wets to Inters at the end of Q1. The track was drying rapidly throughout Q2, but Inters was still the way to go. The track was just about dry enough at the end of Q3 for Softs, with last over the line having the best track conditions. Yuki Tsunoda ceased the initiative to secure his first ever pole position, ahead of the usual suspects Verstappen and Schumacher. It was the first pole for the team since Sebastian Vettel took pole for the Italian Grand Prix in 2008, wen the team was Toro Rosso. Changeable conditions returned for the race.

Tsunoda had the pressure of leading the pack on Full Wets. The Japanese secured the lead into turn 1, as Verstappen held back Schumacher's offensive. All 20 drivers survived the opening lap without damage. The red flag was out on lap 5, as Carlos Sainz's day ended early, and Liam Lawson collected the Ferrari in the process. By the time the AlphaTauri and Ferrari had been cleared away, the sun was out and the track was dry. 17/18 remaining drivers were on Drys. Toyota made a catastrophic error and fitted the Brazilian's TRD123 with Inters. To add to the restart chaos, Zhou's Alfa Romeo experienced a clutch issue and the Chinese pulled off at turn 1. he Williams was in its element in the dry, and Albon powered into the lead at the end of lap 9. The skies began to darken once more by lap 18, but Williams still pitted Albon for a set of Mediums. Two laps later, the Heavens opened and it was time for Inters once more. In a desperate bid to regain lost track position, Albon and Norris attempted another lap on Drys, which would only drop the pair further behind.

Schumacher brought out a second red flag on lap 29, when the German had an identical crash to Sainz. It wasn't the impact the 2019 Champion needed to make with Tirowee down the order. It was a four lap sprint to the end on Full Wets. Tsunoda claimed his first podium finish with 3rd, following his strongest drive to date.

AlphaTauri debuted their major upgrade package at Singapore, as the Italian outfit comes in line further with Red Bull to move off the bottom of the Constructor's table. Both AlphaTauris made it into Q3, with Tsunoda 8th and Lawson 10th. The final Wildcard race of the season started dry, but rain was projected later on. Most drivers pit for Inters at the end of lap 5, whilst Lawson and Hamilton went on for another lap, looking to gain positions by avoiding the crowded pitlane. Neither driver would get the chance to make a stop as Albon crashed heavily and brought out the red flag. The rain only got heavier during the race stoppage. 17/19 drivers opted to restart on Full Wets, whilst Lawson and Hamilton gambled with the Inters. The McLarens swarmed Hamilton at the restart, whilst Lawson kept his composure to lead a lap for the first time in his career. This second gamble didn't pay off as the New Zealander pit at the end of lap 8 for Wets, along with Hamilton. Norris retook the lead from Schumacher and Tsunoda. Tsunoda secured his second third place finish in three races.

## Racing Record (Formula One Results Only)

 **2023** | Scuderia AlphaTauri ORLEN | AlphaTauri AT04