Tsunda sees Imola GP as a home race: 'I can sleep in my own house'

The first European Grand Prix of the 2022 season is scheduled to take place this weekend as the fourth race of the year will be held in Imola. It's a special race for the Italian teams, who will have the first of two home races. For AlphaTauri it will be especially special, as it is only a 20 minute drive from Faenza to the circuit.

Expectations will be high at Red Bull Racing's sister team, as they have only scored 10 points this season, leaving them in a disappointing eighth place in the championship. Yuki Tsunoda himself also notes that things will have to improve in Imola and in the preview of AlphaTauri he thinks that the modified weekend with a sprint race will at least help him.

No worries about new sprint format

"Last year, I was worried about the Sprint Qualifying with only having one practice session before Qualifying, but this season I feel much more confident, also because Imola is a track I know well as I have driven a lot of laps there." So a home race for AlphaTauri, but Tsunoda himself also sees the race as a home race. The Japanese himself has the Japanese Grand Prix to look forward to on 9 October as a 'real' home race.

Still, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix also feels like a home race of sorts, and Tsunoda says this is for a special reason. "I can stay in my own house every night, which is close to the track and nicer than being in a hotel. It will be a bit strange, but I think it will be a more comfortable arrangement allowing me to concentrate on the race."