2021 was a baptism of fire to Formula 1 for Yuki Tsunoda as the Japanese driver had a difficult start to life in the sport.

He finished a strong 9th on debut in Bahrain, but his campaign quickly nosedived after multiple crashes and errors throughout the season, particularly in the European leg of it.

The 21-year-old is aiming to make gains with his pace and consistency, after finishing 78 points behind teammate Pierre Gasly in the Drivers’ Championship last year and only outqualifying him once on merit.

“I want to improve my pace and the consistency in the way I drive,” he said as the AT03 was unveiled today. 

“I know what I have to do to achieve that.”

Positives did come towards the end of the season for Tsunoda, however.

He made Q3 at six of the last seven events and he saved the best performance of his rookie campaign for Abu Dhabi as he finished a superb P4, thanks to a last-lap move on Valtteri Bottas.

Tsunoda, who finished 3rd in Formula 2 in 2020, is hoping to adapt quicker in difficult moments and has been working hard on his weak points over the winter.

“If I can work the way I did at the last three or four races of last year, that will be a good way to start,” he said.

“It won’t be easy, but I am confident that I can achieve that.

“I’m really looking forward to racing again. 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.

“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.

“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 motivation for me when I’m training.”