Formula 1 fans across Japan are rejoicing as they will get their first Japanese driver in F1 since 2014. Yuki Tsunoda will drive for Red Bull’s 2nd team AlphaTauri which was renamed in 2020. Tsunoda will be the first driver to drive in F1 who was born in the 21st century (2000) as well as being the youngest driver at only 20 years old. This is very exciting news for fans all across Japan who will get to root for a homegrown driver on a competitive team in AlphaTauri.
In 2020 during the COVID-19 State of Emergency in Japan I became a massive F1 fan. Not being able to watch my usual favourite sports such as ice hockey (NHL) and baseball (MLB) I was searching for new sports to watch. I discovered an amazing documentary which follows the F1 season on Netflix. The show is called Formula 1: Drive to Survive and I highly recommend anyone interested in sports to watch it. I became immediately hooked to the sport. Starved for live sports to watch I decided to get a DAZN subscription to watch all of the F1 races live. Watching F1 is now one of my favourite pass times along side watching baseball and ice hockey.
My excitement for the F1 2021 season is even bigger now with the news of Yuki Tsunoda racing in his first season in F1. AlphaTauri along with Red Bull’s 1st team are also sporting a Honda engine in their 2021 cars. Japanese fans have a lot to look forward to in Formula 1 this year. Let’s hope that Tsunoda can achieve a podium finish and become the first Japanese driver to have a podium finish since Kamui Kobayashi in the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit. Here’s to 2021!
