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When Yuki Tsunoda was just seven years old, he had his first encounter with Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji. The experience was formative for the young Tsunoda, who decided then that he would one day race against the driver he considered the best in the world. The Japanese driver continues to hold a deep sense of honor in sharing the grid with the seven-time world champion, whom he has admired for as long as he can remember.
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Tsunoda acknowledges that Hamilton's driving skills and accomplishments place him on a completely distinct level. As a driver for AlphaTauri, Tsunoda expressed his immense joy at finally getting the opportunity to compete alongside the 38-year-old champion, after approximately 13 years since their initial meeting at Fuji when he was just a young child.
“So, the first time I saw him, I was seven years old when I went to the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji,” Tsunoda revealed at the press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix. “My friend, a karting friend, was driving with his helmet, like with his replica. So, I can’t still believe I’m driving with him but he’s obviously, like Charles says, been fighting for Championships every year."
Hamilton-Alonso race helped elevate his level, says Yuki Tsunoda
The 23-year-old claims that Hamilton is not only a figure of inspiration in his life, but has also helped him improve his own skill. According to the F1 Nation podcast, Yuki Tsunoda stated that he enhanced his skills by watching Formula 1 videos. He specifically highlighted the intense battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in Hungary as one of the moments he extensively studied. “I’ve been looking at videos… I was just watching the way Alonso was doing that, and I learned a huge amount,” Tsunoda said.
AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost is reportedly ecstatic with his performances, but he will still need to step up a level to extend his stay in Formula 1. Critics have slated Tsunoda as a possible replacement for Sergio Perez at Red Bull in the future.
