Yuki Tsunoda, the promising Japanese racer, is yet to dream about a race victory. He is fully aware of the significant impact a first Grand Prix win by a Japanese F1 driver would have on his homeland. For now, Tsunoda prefers to focus on short-term goals, but he has a clear vision in mind.
Currently, Tsunoda is one position ahead of his experienced teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, in the drivers’ championship, leading by nine points. The Visa RB team has also noticed significant improvements in their young driver’s performance in 2024, raising questions about his future team.
Tsunoda signed a contract extension with his current team, Visa RB, in early June, and therefore, he is not overly concerned about his long-term F1 future. “I just need to focus on what I can do in terms of my performance. If you perform well, or if you drive well, then things will naturally fall into place. I don’t really feel any pressure,” Tsunoda told PlanetF1.
‘Aiming for Japan’s First Podium Finish!’
Despite not thinking too much about the future, Tsunoda has a significant goal in mind. The Visa RB driver wants to be the first Japanese driver ever to secure a podium finish. “Of course, I want to achieve that someday, but for now, I’m not thinking about becoming the first Japanese winner,” Tsunoda admits. “If I can win a Grand Prix one day, it will undoubtedly have a positive impact on Japan. The first thing I need to do is secure the first podium finish for Japan!”
