Yuki Tsunoda – The only Japanese in Formula 1

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

In this article, you will learn in detail who the driver representing Japan is in the most important and competitive car racing championship in the world, as well as curiosities about Japan’s history in motorsport.

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

Japan in Formula 1

Although it has never had a tradition of winning drivers 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 have managed to participate more frequently in some seasons of F1.

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

Who is Yuki Tsunoda?

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

He is the first driver born in the 2000s to join the grid. Racing for the AlphaTauri team, Tsunoda has established himself, at least so far, as a driver who does not often disturb the “big names,” such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc, despite having shown some talent in other categories, a fact that recently qualified him for Formula 1, having even renewed his contract for 2022.

Being a young man of only 21 years, it is quite possible that he will still evolve a lot 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, stating: “I just drive,” showing humility in acknowledging 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:

• Boteco F1 – BOTECO F1 – YouTube
• Projeto Motor – Projeto Motor – YouTube (note: my favorite)
• Grande Prêmio – Grande Prêmio – YouTube
• GP EM CASA – GP EM CASA – YouTube
• Formula 1 – FORMULA 1 – YouTube
• F1 Mania – F1Mania – YouTube
• Sports For F1 – SPORTS FOR F1 – YouTube
• Hora do Piloto – Hora do Piloto – YouTube
• Point F1 – Point F1 – YouTube

Formula 1 Vocabulary

• レーサー = Race driver;
• レーシングカー = Racing car;
• ドライバー = 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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