close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
AlphaTauri launch the AT02

Tsunoda sets aggressive target on making F1 history

AlphaTauri launch the AT02 — Photo: © LAT Images

Tsunoda sets aggressive target on making F1 history

No Japanese driver has won an F1 race

Google Make us your Google favorite

AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda has set himself the lofty target of becoming the first Japanese driver to win in Formula 1.

At the Bahrain Grand Prix, Tsunoda will become the 10th Japanese driver to race full-time in F1, and the first since Kamui Kobayashi retired from the sport at the end of 2014.

Aguri Suzuki, Takuma Sato and Kobayashi have each stood on the podium once with a third-place finish, a fact 20-year-old Tsunoda hopes to change.

Following the the launch of the AT02, Tsunoda said: “I just want to beat the other drivers and I also want to be the first Japanese driver to win a race in Formula 1.”

Just as Max Verstappen was the youngest driver on the grid when making his debut for the team in 2015 when it was then known as Toro Rosso, Tsunoda is the youngest for the coming season.

Tsunoda, who is also the first driver on the grid to have been born since the turn of the millennium, insists his young age is not adding any extra weight to his shoulders.

“I don’t think it’s worth putting too much emphasis on age, as Max Verstappen was 17 when he started," added Tsunoda.

"But I feel it’s an honour to be the first driver on the grid to be born in 2000.

“I’m really excited to get started. The biggest thing for me will be lining up on the grid with so many superstars of the sport.

"It’s an absolute honour to be competing against some of the greatest drivers in the world.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Jenson Button proposes new F1 rule to fix Silverstone safety car fiasco

Jenson Button proposes new F1 rule to fix Silverstone safety car fiasco

  • Yesterday 22:27
Max Verstappen needs to leave Red Bull if he wants to achieve anything in F1

Max Verstappen needs to leave Red Bull if he wants to achieve anything in F1

  • Yesterday 21:42
Christian Horner says he has not missed F1 'politics and bulls***'

Christian Horner says he has not missed F1 'politics and bulls***'

  • Yesterday 20:57
F1 star stung by late FIA penalty in bizarre ruling at British Grand Prix

F1 star stung by late FIA penalty in bizarre ruling at British Grand Prix

  • Yesterday 19:42
Christian Horner breaks silence on 'brutal' Red Bull F1 exit

Christian Horner breaks silence on 'brutal' Red Bull F1 exit

  • Yesterday 18:43
Five suspects arrested after F1 legend injured in robbery at his home

Five suspects arrested after F1 legend injured in robbery at his home

  • Yesterday 17:30

Just in

6-7
Jenson Button proposes new F1 rule to fix Silverstone safety car fiasco
6-7
Max Verstappen needs to leave Red Bull if he wants to achieve anything in F1
6-7
Christian Horner says he has not missed F1 'politics and bulls***'
6-7
F1 star stung by late FIA penalty in bizarre ruling at British Grand Prix
6-7
Christian Horner breaks silence on 'brutal' Red Bull F1 exit
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Christian Horner says he has not missed F1 'politics and bulls***' Christian Horner

Christian Horner says he has not missed F1 'politics and bulls***'

Yesterday 20:57
Christian Horner breaks silence on 'brutal' Red Bull F1 exit Christian Horner

Christian Horner breaks silence on 'brutal' Red Bull F1 exit

Yesterday 18:43
F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked F1 Silly Season

F1 Silly Season: Max Verstappen, McLaren and every driver move tracked

Yesterday 13:48
Lewis Hamilton 'convinced' he would lose F1 podium at Silverstone before dramatic FIA announcement Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton 'convinced' he would lose F1 podium at Silverstone before dramatic FIA announcement

Yesterday 12:25
Ontdek het op Google Play
x