Yuki Tsunoda was in Formula 2 when F1's feeder series trialled the 18-inch Pirelli tyres for the first time in 2020.
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AlphaTauri F1 team driver Yuki Tsunoda has enjoyed being a part of the new Formula 1 car’s development ahead of the 2022 season.
The Japanese driver, who will start his second season in F1 this year, also has some experience with a key aspect of the new regulations – the 18-inch Pirelli tyres.
Tsunoda was in Formula 2 when F1’s feeder series trialled them for the first time in 2020. And he believes he can use that to help AlphaTauri out in some way.
“Obviously this year [has] completely new cars for every team,” said Tsunoda. “It’s a task I need to develop the car with my team mate, Pierre (Gasly), and also with the team.
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“Obviously, [it is a] new experience for me to develop a car this much, but I am really enjoying it currently.
“There is a little bit of experience that I have with the 18-inch tyre [from] two years ago, [I can use] to help the team, but currently all is good, [I’m] looking forward to it.”
Tsunoda also spoke on his excitement of being able to drive again since Abu Dhabi in 2021. This is understandable, given the young driver showed flashes of good form in the end of the season.
However, he was also a bit disappointed to have not gotten to drive on the final day of pre-season testing. This was due to Gasly’s crash ensuring AlphaTauri’s track time was short.
Still, he believes there is more preparation to be done ahead of the second round of testing at Bahrain. F1 teams will do three days of testing at Sakhir a week before the season starts.
“I’ve been really excited to get back driving since Abu Dhabi, especially knowing that it’s a whole new car, and I’ve really enjoyed my time getting to know the AT03.
“There’s still a lot to do ahead of the next test in Bahrain; from my side I need to make some more adaptions to my driving style to suit this new car but overall, it’s been really positive.
“It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to complete the afternoon session [on Friday] but it’s testing, and these things happen.
“We’ve still got three days in Bahrain before the first race, so we need to prepare as much as possible ahead of this so that we can start the season off well.”
The first Grand Prix of the season at Bahrain gets underway from March 18, with the race on March 20.
