Japanese F1 pilot Yuki Tsunoda is one of the sport’s most mysterious men. He’s rapid and angry behind the wheel, but calm in the paddock. We catch up with the Kanagawa native…
How would you look back at the last two years, Yuki?
It’s gone really quickly. I feel like I experienced a lot of things. First year, I learned a lot, faced very difficult situations that even I never experienced in my formula racing career, and in that second half during the last few races I was able to see a bit of light through the clouds and make progress. The second year was kind of continuous progress. Also, able to fight with Pierre [Gasly], when I would never even be close in the first year, especially in the first half of the season. So far in the third year I’m pretty happy with my performance, able to go close to the target, which is really important, extracting performance from the car as much as possible and giving 100 per cent.
With Pierre Gasly now at Alpine, how has your role changed?
I definitely have more responsibility than last year, but at AlphaTauri there is no number one driver, which I don’t mind. Obviously Pierre was a team leader during my first year, and gave feedback on development direction. I saw those things last year and I learned from it. Now I just try to apply it race by race, and I’ve been giving more feedback on aerodynamic development. And even if we’re in kind of a difficult situation right now, where the performance in the car is not really good, I’m still it enjoying a lot.
You are one of the most interesting drivers in F1, and are famous for your radio rants. Are you surprised by all of the interest?
I could tell from the Melbourne road [where fans can interact with the F1 drivers at the Australian Grand Prix as they walk into the circuit], like a lot of fans were staring at me with excitement.
Were you always angry on the radio in the car?
There were a lot of things to learn in 2021 [his rookie F1 season]. I started out with massive confidence in the first race, and was able to show really good performance [with two points on debut in Bahrain]. I almost felt like a world champion. And then the second race [at Imola] turned to the complete opposite. I crashed in Q1 and lost my confidence, while my performances got worse and worse. And my radio attitude was also getting a bit unacceptable. For the first couple of races, people liked it because I don’t think they’d seen that. But, the results and my attitude weren’t equal. I definitely respect my engineer. But at the same time, I have to show more respect. And it was unnecessary that I shouted on the radio, because in the end what the engineer wants is more car feedback. Most of the world champions, they’re always calm, they’re giving their feedback. So I’ve learned from it. And I’ve started to be more calm.
Does that passion help you get to the limit of the car?
I should use that passion for driving, rather than the radio! And I need to just give to the team what I need now, compared to 2021 when I didn’t know what I was doing, really. I didn’t even know what the team wanted in any exact situation. I was just thinking, if I drive fast, [that’s] what I can do. But, it’s good. It’s all relative to what I’m doing now, which is the time when Pierre leaves, now is the time to take more progress and more feedback.
You’ve said you don’t get homesick for Japan, but rather ‘food-sick’. What do you eat when you go back home?
I like to write a list including what I want to eat. Normally I like to eat ramen, sushi, motsunabe [offal hot pot], also sukiyaki, and things like that. It depends on time, but I try to eat most of it.
You like to cook. Are you technical with it, or do you just do it to relax?
Both, I’d say. Sometimes technical, but when I’m feeling lazy I’ll just chuck [all of the] ingredients in. During my first year in Europe in 2019, I was cooking every single meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner, 365 days a year. But, now I live in Italy, and the restaurants there are amazing so I go out a lot more.
Last year marked your first time racing in Singapore. Were you surprised by how hot and mentally tough it was?
Yeah, I still remember how difficult it was, it was slightly more tough than what I expected, especially the humidity. The amount of concentration that you require in Singapore is a lot. I think on one lap pace I was able to be quite good, but I think during the race I couldn’t keep the concentration up, which I need to improve this year definitely. But yeah, it was hard.
How did you train for the race?
Last year I was preparing in the sauna a lot, which helped but I need more challenging activities like heat training. We’ll have to see how Michael [Italiano, Tsunoda’s physio] trains me before Singapore.
Speaking of whom, Michael Italiano is Daniel Ricciardo’s former trainer, and new to your camp this year. What’s that been like?
Michael has been really good, we get along so well. He gave me a couple of experiences with Danny as well, which was good. For me it’s important to have a really good [personal] relationship with a trainer, rather than a business [style] relationship because we travel to 23 races, and we spend most of the time this year together. So when I face a bad moment, a good moment, I want to [be able to] share these with him. That helps a lot for a more consistent mindset into the sessions. So yeah, I’m really happy with Michael.
Interview by STEWART BELL
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF REDBULLCONTENTPOOL
TIME FOR A SINGAPORE SLING
Take your love of the sport to the next level with a dream trip to the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023. It’s a perfect post-winter rev-up that promises tropical climate, fantastic racing under lights, the hottest music acts on stage, and much more. Those who head to Singapore for the event this year will be among the first to see F1 cars race on its modified track layout that will be in place until 2026 at least. The changes are a result of local redevelopment, and will see the Marina Bay Street Circuit drop to 4.928-kilometres in total distance and 19 turns.
The cars will now go straight on at what was turn 16 to connect with what was turn 19 to form a 397.9 metre back straight. A welcome relief for the drivers in what is the toughest event of the year. The lap times are expected to drop by 20 seconds, too, ensuring a thrilling spectacle for trackside fans. As always, the event is about so much more than racing – with music playing a big part. Last year saw the likes of Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, Suede, The Kid LAROI and TLC headline, in which 92 acts in total performed across nine stages. And in 2023 the acts continue to get even bigger with rapper/singer Post Malone and pop icon Robbie Williams already announced!
There’s been no shortage of quality since 2008, with past headliners including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, The Killers, Dua Lipa, Gwen Stefani, Calvin Harris, Ariana Grande, Queen with Adam Lambert, Imagine Dragons, Bon Jovi, Pharrell Williams, Swedish House Mafia and more. Beyond the track, Singapore is a dream to get around and the city-state is world-renowned for its cuisine, celebrating its Malay, Indian and Chinese heritage. You cannot go wrong, whether you’re booking five-star or budget, and all with just a seven-hour flight from Sydney or Melbourne, or five from Perth.
The FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX will be held from September 15-17, 2023. For more info go to singaporegp.sg
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