Tsunoda 'motivated' by 'added pressure' in second F1 season

Yuki Tsunoda has conceded to feeling "more pressure to perform" after a difficult rookie F1 season last year.

Tsunoda began his F1 career with a bang as he became the first Japanese driver to score points in his maiden F1 outing but results proved difficult to come by after this initial success.

"Last year, if anything unexpected or unusual happened, I could not adapt quickly enough to deal with the situation, which is why I struggled in a lot of races," said Tsunoda.

"I ended last year well, with a fourth place in Abu Dhabi, so I want to carry that momentum into this new season. I feel more pressure to perform now than I did last year, but it's a good pressure, which is [a] motivation for me when I'm training."

Across the 11 races that followed the summer break, Tsunoda registered points just twice, finishing ninth in the United States and a career-best fourth in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"I'm really looking forward to racing again," Tsunoda added. "I feel I have a much better understanding of what I have to do than I did a year ago, I know how to prepare in order to perform well.

"I know what my weak points are, I have all of my experience from last year to build on and I have been working hard to be ready."

Tsunoda completed 121 laps across the first pre-season test despite not being afforded the chance to take part in the final day after Pierre Gasly crashed in the morning session.

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