Tsunoda after first F1 test: "I had only seen this in a computer game"

Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese talent in the stable of Honda and Red Bull, made his first metres in a Formula 1 car at the Imola circitus on Wednesday. If he gets his super license at the end of the F2 season, it looks like he will be able to join AlphaTauri next season.

Today's F1 cars are the fastest cars the championship has ever known, so you would think a complete debutant would be impressed by such a machine. Tsunoda is, in some ways, after his first few kilometres, but in general he was not that impressed.

"The driving itself was less extreme in terms of speed than I had thought, but the physical load is a lot greater. I thought I had a strong neck, but now it turns out it is not strong enough. My head always went forward when I braked. The braking power of a Formula 1 car is unbelievable," said Tsunoda to Speedweek.com.

Tsunoda impressed by tyre blankets

He goes on to say that power did impress him too, but perhaps the best moment came just before he was allowed on the track. "When the engine was started, I had the feeling for the first time - this is really happening now! Formula 1 has always been my dream. Driving off wasn't much different than in F2, everything felt normal. It was unusual how the mechanics pulled the electric blankets together, I had only seen that from this perspective in a computer game."

In Formula 2 they don't have tyre warmers. In that championship, there is still a lot at stake for Tsunoda over the next month. He has to be at least fourth in the final standings to earn enough points for his super license. With two race weekends to go, he is third and only has a few points ahead of the man behind him.