Tsunoda: 'You can see from the top speeds that we have improved the engine'

Yuki Tsunoda is probably the most expected rookie, given Alpha Tauri's good speed last year. If the team's upward trend continues, we could see Tsunoda regularly in the points. For now, he and the team seem to be on the right track.

"Thanks to the test drives in the old car in the winter, I came here with a good feeling," Tsunoda said as quoted by Auto Motor und Sport just before his final test session.

"The switch to the 2021 car was not so difficult. We made a lot of progress with the car. We also improved the engine, which you can see in the top speeds. And I've learned a lot myself."

Tsunoda can't reach the pedals

Although conditions are difficult to compare between the times the two teammates drove on the track, it does seem that the Japanese driver is well in line with his now experienced teammate Pierre Gasly. Even if his small stature also poses some problems.

"The feedback from me and Pierre is very similar. That is important for the engineers to improve the car. Unfortunately we had a few problems with the drive and also with the pedals, which are a bit different for me than for Pierre (Gasly). But that's what the test drives are for."