While brands like Honda and Toyota have maintained Japan’s constant presence at the pinnacle of motorsport, the country has never produced a successful Formula 1 driver. No Japanese driver has ever won a Grand Prix, although the likes of Kamui Kobayashi have managed to secure podium finishes. However, having spent 3 years in the sport, Yuki Tsunoda is Japan’s only hope at the moment to secure Formula 1 glory. According to the driver himself, his journey so far in Formula 1 has not been the easiest.

Tsunoda’s journey in racing began as usual with karting at the tender age of 4. He swiftly climbed the ranks of Japanese karting, transitioning to national F4 in 2016. Clinching the F4 title in his third attempt with an impressive record of wins and pole positions, Tsunoda ventured into the international racing scene in 2019, taking part in the FIA F3 season and the Euroformula Open. He was promoted to F2 in 2020 with Carlin, where his strong performance with wins at Silverstone and Spa Francorchamps caught the attention of Red Bull, earning him the ticket to Formula 1.

Yuki Tsunoda believes his accomplishments in F1 fall short of his sacrifices

Tsunoda’s had a strong start to his Formula 1 career, claiming 2 points in his debut race in Bahrain in 2021. Despite not having a great middle part of the season, he did just enough to secure a drive at Alpha Tauri for a second consecutive season. The 2022 campaign turned out to be even worse for the 23-year-old, struggling to come to terms with the new car under the new ground-effect regulations.

However, Red Bull showcased their continued faith in Yuki Tsunoda by confirming his presence in the sister team for a third consecutive season in 2023. Even with one of the slowest cars on the grid, Tsunoda helped Alpha Tauri stay in the fight for 7th place throughout the season, only to miss the trick with strategy in the season finale, losing out by a 3-point margin to Williams. In a recent documentary released by the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team called “Whatever it Takes – The Race before the Races,” Yuki Tsunoda reflected on his life as a Formula 1 driver.

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Speaking about his drive to become an F1 driver, Yuki said, “For me to become a Formula 1 driver is also already a lot of things I sacrificed. It’s a completely different life I did, you know, like normal people. There’s a good thing and lots of things I couldn’t do, I couldn’t experience. I think I sacrificed a lot more than I got in Formula 1, but I think in the end it was a for me. [It] was a good decision, what I sacrificed in the previous years because that’s why I’m here.”

“Of course, I’m ready to sacrifice more or you know to walk a different lifestyle as compared to other, you know, normal people to be a Formula 1 Champion,“ the 23-year-old added.

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With 3 Formula 1 seasons under his belt, Tsunoda is ready to take on the next challenge in his career; securing a drive with the senior Red Bull team.

Tsunoda vows to go all out in 2024 to prove himself

Despite starting the 2023 season with a slow car, Alpha Tauri showed promise with late-season improvements, allowing Yuki Tsunoda to improve his standing to a respectable 14th. Looking ahead to the future, Tsunoda expressed optimism about the team’s chances in 2024. He predicts a stronger performance from the car, providing more opportunities to compete in the top ten.

In terms of his future with Red Bull, the Japanese driver acknowledged the ongoing rumors about potential opportunities beyond his current team, linking him to Aston Martin, especially with Honda’s involvement starting in 2026. However, the 23-year-old is determined to prove his worth as a driver in 2024. “This will be the year when I show that I have everything in me to be a top F1 driver. To make that happen, I will have to go all out, and I need to be able to call on everyone’s support,” Sports Illustrated quoted Tsunoda.

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Do you think Red Bull will consider putting Tsunoda alongside Max Verstappen as Checo’s contract expires at the end of 2024? Share your insights in the comments down below.