AlphaTauri impressed by Tsunoda: 'You can't take away that mindset'

There will be three rookies in Formula 1 next season. Haas will take two rookies for 2021 and AlphaTauri chooses to place a rookie next to an experienced driver. While Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin are getting a lot of attention, Yuki Tsunoda still seems to be in the background. Yet AlphaTauri expects a lot from the 20-year old Japanese driver.

"If you take into account his age, he already has a lot of attention for what he does. He has a lot of self-confidence, which is always nice. When I first met him, I thought he was a little boy. Now it turns out he has a lot of self-confidence," explains AlphaTauri team manager Graham Watson in conversation with Motorsport.com.

When Tsunoda was announced at AlphaTauri, he was often asked what his goal was for the first season in Formula 1. "He then said, 'Beat Gasly!' If that's your mindset, then you don't take that away. Because in the end you are always compared to your teammate." Not only Watson is a fan of Tsunoda, but the entire team is looking forward to seeing the Japanese on the track.

"Franz Tost is also a huge fan. If you look at the drivers, he really knows what he is talking about. He could quickly see that Yuki has what it takes to perform. We see good, positive signs from him in the car every day." In Bahrain we will see Tsunoda drive an F1 car for the first time when the winter tests take place.