A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Last week, Max Verstappen was caught doing a secret test in a Ferrari GT3 car at the Nordschleife. Yuki Tsunoda now weighs in on his Red Bull Racing teammate's incursion at the legendary track.
Replying to a question posed by GPblog, Tsunoda revealed he was no stranger to the 'Green Hell' himself: "I've driven it already," he said at the F1 paddock in Imola.
"I drove it with the NSX GT3. But I don't think it was Max driving." Indeed, the Dutchman did not register for the test with his actual name, he used a pseudonym instead: Franz Hermann.
During his run, Verstappen managed to beat the track record in the category he was racing. What was Tsunoda's lap time when he drove there then?
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Tsunoda has 'a bit of an excuse' for not racing in anger at the Nordschleife
"I mean, a bit of excuse. But I have a safety car in front to be safe. It was like part of the Red Bull Sunday Show run, so I had a safety car in front, so I couldn't really push at all. But it's not a track that you can drive fast immediately. So he did really well, Mr. Franz," was Tsunoda's assessment of Verstappen's run.
The Japanese is clear on something, if he were to have a proper go at the 'Green Hell', he knows what name he'd like to race under: "Something good, Japanese name. Yeah, I would be the Last Samurai. I hope it won't be the last ride in my life," concluded the Japanese driver laughing.
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