Yuki Tsunoda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yuki Tsunoda
角田 裕毅
Tsunoda at the 2021 United States Grand Prix
Born	(2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 25) Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Japanese
Car number	22
Entries	95 (92 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	96
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	1
First entry	2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last entry	2019 Monaco Grand Prix
2024 position	12th (30 pts)
Previous series
2020 2020 2019 2019 2016–2018 2017 2016	FIA Formula 2 Toyota Racing Series FIA Formula 3 Euroformula Open F4 Japanese JAF Japan F4 Super FJ
Championship titles
2018 2017 2016	F4 Japanese Championship JAF Japan F4 – East Series Super FJ All-Japan Final
Awards
2020 2020	FIA Rookie of the Year Anthoine Hubert Award

Yuki Tsunoda (born May 11, 2000) is a Japanese racing driver. He currently competes in Formula One for the Racing Bulls team.

Yuki was born in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. He started kart racing when he was nine years old. Since 2016, Honda has supported his racing journey through their Honda Formula Dream Project.

He quickly moved up through junior racing categories. In 2017, he won his first championship in the JAF Japan F4 East Series. The next year, he won the F4 Japanese Championship. He then raced in FIA Formula 3 in 2019. In 2020, he finished third in his first season of FIA Formula 2.

Yuki joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2019. In 2021, he joined the AlphaTauri Formula One team. He achieved his best result that year, finishing fourth at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has continued to race for the team, which was renamed Racing Bulls in 2024. Yuki is set to stay with Racing Bulls until at least the end of the 2025 season.

Yuki's Early Life and Education

Yuki Tsunoda was born on May 11, 2000, in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. He went to LCA International Elementary School. Later, he attended Nihon University Third High School before moving to Wako High School in 2017.

In 2019, Yuki started studying Sport Management at Nippon Sport Science University. However, he later took a break and then left university. He decided to focus completely on his exciting racing career.

Yuki's Junior Racing Career

Starting with Karting

Yuki began his professional karting career in 2010. He joined the JAF Junior Karting Championship. He then moved to regional and national karting classes in the following years.

Racing in Japanese Formula 4

2016: First Steps in Single-Seaters

In 2016, Yuki finished his training at Honda's Suzuka Circuit Racing School. He became part of the Honda Formula Dream Project. That same year, he made his debut in single-seater cars. He raced in the F4 Japanese Championship at Suzuka. He earned his first podium, finishing second in one race and fourth in another.

In 2017, Yuki started his first full season in single-seater racing. He competed in the F4 Japanese Championship and the regional JAF F4 Japanese Championship. He won his first race at Okayama. Yuki won the regional championship title and finished third in the national Formula 4 championship. He raced for Honda in both series.

2018: Becoming a Champion

Yuki continued to race in Japanese F4 in 2018 with the Honda Formula Dream Project team. He had an amazing season, winning seven races. He secured the championship title in the final race at Motegi. He beat his rival, Teppei Natori, by 14 points.

Competing in FIA Formula 3

Yuki racing at the 2019 Spielberg Formula 3 round

As Honda teamed up with Red Bull in Formula One, Yuki also joined the Red Bull Junior Team. This was in addition to his Honda program. In late 2018, it was announced that Yuki would join Jenzer Motorsport in the new FIA Formula 3 Championship.

He scored his first point in the first race in Barcelona. He continued to earn points in other races, showing his skill. At Spa-Francorchamps, he qualified in an impressive third place. He later achieved a breakthrough second place in Race 2.

Yuki had a very successful time at Monza. He finished fourth in one race, but was moved up to third place after another driver received a penalty. In Race 2, he started sixth and quickly moved to third. He then passed other drivers to claim his only F3 win of the year. He finished ninth in the championship with 67 points. He earned three podiums and one win, scoring all of Jenzer team's points that season.

Racing in Euroformula Open

Yuki also raced for Motopark in the Euroformula Open Championship. He finished second in a race at Paul Ricard. He also took third place at the Pau Grand Prix. Yuki then won his first championship race at Hockenheim.

Even though he missed two rounds because of his F3 races, Yuki finished fourth in the standings. He earned 151 points, with one win and five other podium finishes.

Toyota Racing Series Experience

Before his 2020 season, Yuki competed in the 2020 Toyota Racing Series with M2 Competition. He won one race during this series, at the opening round in Highlands Motorsport Park. He also achieved two third-place finishes. Overall, he finished fourth in the championship.

Success in FIA Formula 2

In 2020, Honda announced that Yuki would join Carlin for the FIA Formula 2 Championship. He was joined by fellow Red Bull junior, Jehan Daruvala. The season started in Austria due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yuki showed his speed by topping the free practice session on his debut. He later secured his first pole position in the second Austrian round. He led much of the race in wet conditions. Despite a radio problem that delayed his pit stop, he fought back to finish second.

He took his first win in the second Silverstone round. He was running third when the two drivers ahead collided, moving him up to first place. Yuki believed he could have won even without the crash. He then took his second pole position in Spa-Francorchamps. He won the feature race after a battle with Nikita Mazepin.

Yuki claimed his third pole position in Sochi. He finished second in that race. In the final round in Bahrain, he took another pole position and won the feature race. He finished second in the sprint race. Overall, Yuki had a fantastic season. He achieved three wins, four pole positions, and seven podiums. He finished third in the championship with 200 points.

Yuki's Formula One Career

Yuki's first time driving a Formula One car was in November 2020. He tested a Toro Rosso STR13 at Imola Circuit. The next month, he drove for AlphaTauri in a rookie test.

AlphaTauri / Racing Bulls (2021–present)

2021: Rookie Season in F1

Yuki at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix

Yuki joined AlphaTauri for the 2021 season. He replaced Daniil Kvyat and partnered with Pierre Gasly. His car number is 22.

At his first race in Bahrain, Yuki qualified 13th. He finished ninth, passing Lance Stroll on the last lap. Formula One's technical director, Ross Brawn, called Yuki "F1's best rookie for years." He aimed for Q3 (the final qualifying session) in the next race. However, he crashed in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna race. He still managed to finish 13th.

Yuki reached Q3 for the first time at the Azerbaijan race. He finished seventh, his best result at that point. He had a strong finish to the season. He qualified eighth in the final race in Abu Dhabi. He finished fourth, earning 12 points, which was his best result ever. Yuki finished 14th in the drivers' championship with 32 points.

2022: Learning and Improving

Yuki at the 2022 British Grand Prix

Yuki continued with AlphaTauri for the 2022 season. He scored points in the opening race in Bahrain, finishing eighth. At the Emilia Romagna race, he finished seventh, calling it his best F1 race. He also reached Q3 and scored points in Miami and Spain.

He had a tough middle part of the season with no points for twelve races. He faced some bad luck and incidents. For example, he crashed exiting the pits in Canada. He also had a collision with his teammate Gasly in Britain.

Yuki scored a point at the United States race, finishing tenth. This ended his long streak without points. He finished the season 17th in the drivers' championship with 12 points.

2023: Showing Strong Pace

Yuki at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix

Yuki stayed with AlphaTauri for the 2023 season. He partnered with rookie Nyck de Vries. He finished 11th in the first three races. At the Australian race, he earned his and AlphaTauri's first point of the year. Many people praised his performances early in the season.

He reached Q3 for the first time in 2023 at the Azerbaijan race, scoring another point. He also scored points in Belgium. From the Hungarian race onwards, Yuki partnered with Daniel Ricciardo. Later in the season, Liam Lawson replaced Ricciardo due to an injury.

At his home race in Japan, Yuki made it to Q3 and qualified ninth. In the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Yuki qualified a career-best sixth. He even led a race for the first time ever! He finished eighth and was voted Driver Of The Day. Yuki finished the 2023 season 14th in the standings with 17 points.

2024: Continued Growth and Praise

Yuki at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix

AlphaTauri was renamed RB Formula One Team for the 2024 season. Yuki continued to race for them alongside Daniel Ricciardo. He had a strong start to the season. He qualified ninth in Saudi Arabia.

In Australia, he finished seventh, earning his first points of 2024. He was praised for making "big steps" in his performance. At his home race in Japan, he finished tenth. This made him the first Japanese driver to score points at home since 2012.

Yuki continued to score points in Miami, Emilia Romagna, and Monaco. He also scored points in Britain and Hungary. Towards the end of the season, Liam Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo again.

Yuki had his best qualifying position ever at the São Paulo race, starting third in a wet session. He finished seventh in the race. He finished the 2024 season 12th in the drivers' championship with 30 points. This was his highest ever placing in Formula 1. His team principal, Laurent Mekies, said Yuki had "made a step that nobody could forecast."

2025: Staying with Racing Bulls

In June 2024, RB announced that Yuki's contract would be extended. He will continue to race for the team in the 2025 season.

Racing Record

Career Summary