Yuki Tsunoda was a "lazy b*****d" before Italy move

Yuki Tsunoda ahead of Mexico City Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

AlphaTauri

Tsunoda was a "lazy b*****d" before Italy move

Tsunoda was previously based in Milton Keynes before his Faenza move

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Wednesday 22 December 2021 09:15

Yuki Tsunoda has conceded to being a "lazy b*****d" before making a mid-season move to Italy to work closer with his AlphaTauri team.

Tsunoda was one of three rookie drivers on the F1 grid last season alongside Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin who were paired at Haas.

Each driver faced their own challenges but after impressing with the second-fastest time in pre-season testing and scoring points on his debut, expectations soared over the Japanese driver's potential.

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Tsunoda, however, immediately slumped as a series of crashes disrupted progress, leading to AlphaTauri relocating him from Milton Keynes to Faenza to work with the team under the watchful gaze of boss Franz Tost.

Speaking before the close of the 2021 season in an interview including GPFans, Tsunoda said: “It [the move] did help in terms of preparation.

"Of course, until when I moved to Italy, I was just a lazy bastard. After training [I'd go] straight into my house, turn on the PlayStation 5 and do gaming all day and try to just enjoy myself.

“But actually [that was] always why, [heading] into the race week, I felt like I was rushing a little bit I would say.

“Always into the race week, I start to prepare from then and I think it was too late."

Comparing himself to other more experienced drivers on the grid and with the benefit of hindsight, Tsunoda reflected they had prepared "much more than me for the race week".

He added: “Especially as I'm a rookie, I need preparation more than the experienced drivers. Those things, the preparation, I would say [was beneficial].

"And there are more things I improved after I moved to Italy. Obviously, also after the race, we went to the factory again to review the races and what were the issues. Those things made a difference.”