Tsunoda wants to hit back: 'Last two races eliminated in first lap'

This weekend, the Japanese Grand Prix is on the programme. This is of course the home race for AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda and the Japanese is looking to bounce back at Suzuka Circuit after two disappointing races in a row. Liam Lawson is also looking forward to the Japanese GP and hopes to be strong like in Singapore.

Home race for Tsunoda in GP Japan

For the second time in his career, Tsunoda will race his home Grand Prix: "For the past two races, through no fault of my own, I haven’t got past the first lap, but I’ve reset my mind, ready to bounce back strong in Suzuka. Since arriving in Japan, we’ve been busy with various promotional events, getting a great welcome from the fans. I’m very much looking forward to this weekend. If I’m honest, I’ve actually been looking forward to it since the end of last year’s race! It’s definitely very special, and the way I felt there was completely different to all the other Grands Prix, with so much support from the fans there. It was incredible, and I can’t wait to be back there again. As an event, it will be the best of the year for me."

According to Tsunoda, with the upgrades that came on the car in Singapore, it should be doable to start scoring points in Japan. "We're expecting a good team performance. The upgrades we introduced in Singapore seem to work, so maybe we can aim for the top ten or top eight. We need to score more points, and the entire team is working towards that goal, with everyone pushing each other forward to try and achieve it," the Japanese driver concluded.

Lawson is familiar with Suzuka Circuit

Before his F1 debut, Lawson was active in Japanese Super Formula, so the Suzuka Circuit is not unfamiliar territory for the New Zealander. "I’m excited about Suzuka, which I know pretty well, as I’m racing in the Super Formula championship this year. It means I’ve tested and raced there quite a few times and I absolutely love it. Obviously being a Formula 1 track, when I first drove it, it was a pretty cool experience. It’s very iconic as well. More of an old-school style of circuit, with grass around the whole track and not much room for error."

In Singapore, Lawson scored his first points and the AlphaTauri driver obviously hopes to repeat that in Japan. "I’m hoping that we can be strong there, and it helps to know the track reasonably well. I’m expecting it to be very different to drive in a Formula 1 car, but I’m excited to go there. I think, in a Formula 1 car, it’s one of the best circuits you could drive," Lawson concluded.