Yuki Tsunoda aims to excite Formula 1 fans with his “attacking” driving style with AlphaTauri next season.
The 20-year-old earned his opportunity by claiming third in the Formula 2 standings this year behind Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott, also becoming the first driver born in the new Millennium to make it to F1.
And asked what fans should expect from him on the track, Tsunoda hinted at following in the footsteps of other Japanese drivers with their all-or-nothing approach.
“My strong point is my attacking style and I’m confident people who see me driving will be impressed by it,” he was quoted by AFP.
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“I’m a rookie, so for the first half of the season I want to double down on my attacking style and take it as far as I can, even if I make mistakes.
“My teammate has a lot of experience and I want to absorb as much as I can from him while also seeing how far my potential can take me.
“Then, for the second half of the season, I want to use everything I’ve learned and try to improve with every race.”
Tsunoda follows the likes of Charles Leclerc and George Russell in having made it to F1 with just a single year in F3 and F2.
And Trevor Carlin, who has had many top talents. including Tsunoda, come through his junior teams, spoke highly of his potential.
“Time will tell where he ends up in the pecking order, but I think he has a very bright future ahead of him,” he said.
“As long as he’s not overwhelmed by the F1 environment, I see no reason why he shouldn’t be able to do the same as Lando Norris, and maybe he has something of Max Verstappen in him.
“He learns and understands the car very quickly and he has natural talent, so it’s important to adapt that to each championship and move on with it. If he picks up F1 as fast as F2, he’ll be right on Pierre as soon as they get back to Europe.
“He is absolutely ready. He’s going to many new tracks now, but he didn’t seem to have any problem finding speed – like at Sochi, where he was fast. I’m hopeful.
“I would expect some incidents in the first races, but once that’s over I think he can surprise a lot of people,” Carlin concluded.
And commenting on what he is looking forward to most in F1, Tsunoda began by looking back and voiced his wish to become an inspiration to Japanese fans.
“I would like to fight with Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso,” he stated.
“Especially Hamilton and Alonso, who I saw at Fuji Speedway when I was seven or eight years old. I am happy to be able to fight with such drivers.
“This year has been tough but the Japanese Grand Prix will be at Suzuka next year and I would love fans to come and see it for themselves,” Tsunoda added.
“My strong point is overtaking and I would love fans to come and watch me.”