Yuki Tsunoda is a Japanese driver for AlphaTauri Formula 1 team. He is the 18th Japanese driver to compete in Formula 1 after Kamui Kobayashi in 2014. Although competing as a rookie, his best result for his team was seventh place after passing Sebastian Vettel. He first found his interest in Formula 1 when he started karting at a young age.
He made his way to Formula 4 in 2016 becoming the Formula 4 champion in 2018. In addition to that, he also won a race and three podiums in his Formula 3 season. Tsunoda has taken part in the EuroFormula Open and Toyota Racing Series after his Formula 3 season.
In his Formula 2 season, he was driving alongside a rookie driver, Jehan Daruvala. By the end of his Formula 2 career, he had won three races, four pole positions and had achieved seven podium finishes.
He started his Formula 1 career in 2021 driving alongside Pierre Gasly. He still races for AlphaTauri. His personal best in Formula 1 was a P4 in his first season. Soon Pierre Gasly made his move to Alpine. And Yuki Tsunoda started driving alongside Nyck de Vries for only 10 races in 2023. He currently drives for AlphaTauri with Daniel Ricciardo who has replaced him.
Yuki Tsunoda drew inspiration from his father to start racing
Yuki Tsunoda was born in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. He is a Japanese motorsport driver, currently driving for Formula 1. His father was a mechanic when he was younger, this had been the driving point for Tsunoda’s interest and passion in motorsports. He had also bare witness to his father competing in local motorsport races.
He soon started trying his luck at the races himself after being inspired by his father. He was not from a wealthy family, however, they could meet their needs while also affording Yuki’s karting. While Yuki’s father played a significant role in his career by being his mechanic and coach, his mother remained anonymous.
Yuki first started his schooling at the Nippon High School but soon moved schools to Wako High School. In 2019, Yuki joined the Faculty of Sport Management of Nippon Sport Science University. He had also tried his luck at Honda’s Suzuka Circuits Sports Facility. He managed to graduate with excellence which got him his first seat in Formula 4.
Yuki Tsunoda does not have any siblings. While he still drives for Formula 1’s AlphaTauri, he is also Red Bull’s junior driver. Being paired with Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 season after Nyck de Vries’ leave. Even after being a rookie, he has had his best results finishing inside the points for his AlphaTauri team. Tsunoda has also managed to impress his boss, Helmut Marko, and will be keeping his seat at AlphaTauri in the future.