Beyond that Formula 1 was created in Europe and that continent is still the main protagonist of the action, Japan is very important in maximum. yuki tsunodafrom 2021, it is the benchmark for the country in the category that first set foot on Japanese soil in 1976 with the Grand Prix held at Fuji.
The SportingNews reviews not only Japanese sporting history, but also its heritage, contracts and passions outside the world of motorsport.
Yuki Tsunoda: the Little Monster who hates the gym and tattoos
When AlphaTauri announced the arrival of Yuki Tsunoda in 2021, the Japanese broke a few records: the shortest and lightest pilot in history. The man born on May 11, 2000 is only 159 cm tall and weighs only 54 kg.
The team had to build a special car to reach the pedals and raised the seat to make it comfortable. Although she asked him to gain weight, which he hates in the gym.
“The preparation I have done for 2022 has been much greater than last year and I have definitely noticed the benefits and increased performance. Still, I hate it, but at the same time I know I can perform well in the race, so I keep going”, sure.
The Little monster, so nicknamed since his arrival in Europe, also had to modify his manner of expression. Almost every conversation can be heard in Formula 1 and used to swear or insult. Right now he is calmer and only has a few small “tantrums”.
Japan is a country with great traditions and even though Yuki lives in Italy, he maintains them. Tattoos are a forbidden word for Tsunoda, who has no ink on his body unlike other drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo or Fernando Alonso. These, which became legal in the territory only in 2020, are linked to the Yakuza mafia.
The support of an engineer father and Honda
Check out this Instagram post
To get to Formula 1 you need talent and money. Yuki Tsunoda has a lot of the former, but not so much of the latter. His family is middle class: his father, an engineer, was the one who pushed him into motorsport. Although his father preferred motorcycles to cars, Yuki turned to go-karts at the age of 10.
The good returns in your country have attracted attention Sling, company that protected him. Since its alliance with Red Bull, it has grown into the energy drinks group: it has gone through F4, F3 and F2 before reaching Máxima in 2021.
Is Yuki Tsunoda a millionaire?
As previously mentioned, Yuki Tsnuoda grew up in a working class middle class. However, since his arrival in Máxima, he can make a good financial difference.
It is estimated that in the 2022 season he earns 750 thousand dollars, being the lowest paid salary of the entire grid. To this we must add what he has earned since his debut in F1: his assets barely exceeded one million dollars.
