Yuki Tsunoda: The Only Japanese Driver in Formula 1

For those who follow Formula 1 closely, it is easy to see that the amount of Asians on the Grid has always been very small compared to the large number of Europeans who compete on the tracks. However, in this year 2022, we have the presence of two oriental drivers competing in the category: the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, from the Alfa Romeo team and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, from the AlphaTauri.

In this article, you will find out in detail who is the driver who represents Japan in the most important and disputed race car competition in the world, as well as curiosities about the history of Japan in motorsport.

So sit in the chair and rev up the engines! Click here and read our article about Ayrton Senna and his popularity in Japan!

- who is yuki tsunoda?
Yuki Tsunoda - the only Japanese in Formula 1

Japan in Formula 1

Despite never having had a tradition of winning pilots like Brazil (which had champions such as Emerson Fittipaldi, José Carlos Pace, Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna), Japan is a country passionate about motorsport. In addition, some Japanese drivers managed to participate more frequently in some F1 seasons.

Names like Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki, Takuma Sato and Kamui Kobayashi may have been the Japanese that stood out the most on the tracks. Each in their respective seasons, these drivers have achieved good results, ranging from the first point of a Japanese in a world championship - with Nakajima's sixth place driving Senna's Lotus, in San Marino (1987) - from the first podium in Japan, won by Aguri Suzuki, in 1990, until the good races of Takuma Sato and Kobayashi during the beginning of the 21st century.

- who is yuki tsunoda?
Satoru Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi, and Aguri Suzuki, respectively.

Who is Yuki Tsunoda?

Since 2021, a new character has joined this select gallery of Japanese in Formula 1. His name is Yuki Tsunoda (2000 – ), a young Japanese driver, 1.59 meters tall, who is in his second season in Formula 1. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, more specifically in the city of Samigahara. Japanese Formula 4 champion in 2018, he reaped good results during his journey to reach Formula 1.

He is the first driver born in the 2000s to join the F1 grid. Racing for the AlphaTauri team, Tsunoda has established himself, at least so far, as a driver who doesn't bother the "big ones", such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, despite having shown some talent in other categories, a fact that recently accredited him in Formula 1, having even renewed his contract for 2022.

As he is only 21 years old, it is quite possible that he will still make a lot of progress on the tracks and achieve excellent results in the near future.

In a recent interview, Tsunoda revealed that he was quite surprised by the contract renewal with his current team, having said: “I only hit”, showing humility in recognizing the inconsistency he has had at the beginning of his career as a driver in the main category of world motorsport. .

YouTube channels about Formula 1

Here's a list of some of the best Brazilian channels about Formula 1 on YouTube:

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Formula 1 vocabulary

  • レーサー = Race driver;
  • レーシングカー = Race car;
  • ドライバー = Pilot, Driver;
  • ワールドチャンピオン = World Champion;
  • エフ-1 = F1, Formula 1;
  • 車 (くるま) = Car;
  • 設備 (せつび) = Equipment;
  • ヘルメット = Helmet;

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