F1 | Tsunoda looking to have a better second half of 2021 season after “very inconsistent” F1 career start
Yuki Tsunoda described as “very inconsistent” the start of his carrer as a Formula 1 driver. The young Japanese driver is hoping the inconsistency evens out at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Tsunoda started his career as a fully-fledged Formula 1 driver in AlphaTauri being one of the most hyped up rookies in recent seasons. He became the first Japanese driver to score points on his F1 debut in Bahrain, but later he has encountered a rollercoaster season by scoring points in just 4 of the 10 other races.
Despite that, alongside his teammate Pierre Gasly, he has helped AlphaTauri be the only team to score points in all 11 races in the first half of the 2021 season. Tsunoda is hoping that after the summer break the inconsistency in his carreer evens out at the Belgian Grand Prix.
“The first half of the season overall was really interesting and enjoyable,” said Tsunoda. “Many things about it were unexpected for me. It did not really match with what I had thought it might be like before the season started.
“There were lots of ups and downs and at times my performance was very inconsistent,” added Tsunoda, who’s scored just 18 points to Gasly’s 50. “But overall, I am quite happy because I managed to score points, helping… AlphaTauri to be the only team to score points in every race so far this year. We need to keep that going now as we start the second half of the year.”
Even though he is just halfway through his first season as a F1 driver, Tsunoda has already had a taste of some of the iconic F1 circuitsm including Imola – where he unfortunately crashed during qualifying – and Silverstone. Yuki is now preparing to take on another classic F1 cricuit, one that is ought to test his skills but has already seen him enjoying success in the junior categories: the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
“It’s great that we start racing again at Spa, because I have very good memories from this track,” he said. “Last year in Formula 2, I won the Feature Race starting from pole position and the year before that in Formula 3, it was here that I got my first podium in the category.
“I like the track, so I am looking forward to it and I think it will be one of the circuits that will feel extra special in a Formula 1 car for the first time. It will be an especially interesting experience to see how an F1 car goes through Eau Rouge.”
