"It will be a special moment and I’m glad I get to share it with the fans"

Masashi Yamamoto will drive for Toro Rosso in FP1 of the Japanese Grand Prix when he replaces Pierre Gasly for the session. The Japanese racer is looking forward to getting on track at his home Grand Prix and also getting a taste of Formula 1.  

“First of all, I would like to thank Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull and of course Honda for giving me this great opportunity," he said. "I am delighted that I will get to drive a Formula 1 car this weekend, something which has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. To get this chance at Suzuka, a very important circuit for all Japanese racing drivers, in front of such a big crowd of Japanese fans, will make the experience even more special.

"I have prepared as well as possible for this, spending time as part of the Toro Rosso team at several Grand Prix weekends and I have also worked in the Red Bull simulator. My main aim in FP1 will be to do a good job for the team, gathering data and information which will be useful for them over the weekend.

"On a personal note, I want to enjoy the experience of driving an F1 car as much as possible and I will be trying my very best to get the most out of it. It will be a special moment and I’m glad I will get to share it with the fans at this amazing race track, where I first watched Formula 1 cars in action 27 years ago.”

Yamamoto has a vast racing experience and has won the Super Formula championship in 2013 and 2018, and the Super GT championship in 2018. He will hope to impress Toro Rosso and give the Japanese fans something to cheer about.