---
title: "Tsunoda: F1 car a ‘whole different world’ compared to F2"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2020/11/05/tsunoda-f1-car-a-whole-different-world-compared-to-f2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2020-11-05T10:44:02Z"
modified: "2020-11-05T10:44:04Z"
---

# Tsunoda: F1 car a ‘whole different world’ compared to F2

Yuki Tsunoda says the power and braking performance of a Formula 1 car is a “whole different world” to Formula 2 as he completed his maiden test for AlphaTauri at Imola.

Red Bull junior Tsunoda completed his first running in an F1 car, driving a 2018-spec Toro Rosso STR13, as he bids to earn the required FIA superlicence points.

Tsunoda ran more than 300km around the Imola circuit on Wednesday, but is required to finish in the top five of the F2 championship to gain a licence.

The Japanese driver tested on a damp track in the morning before lapping in dry conditions later in the day, managing both qualifying and race runs.

Reflecting on the test, Tsunoda said the physicality of an F1 car left him feeling a “little bit tired” despite training beforehand.

“Today’s session, my first time in a Formula 1 car, was great fun,” Tsunoda said. “It was a whole different world to the F2 car I am racing this year, especially in terms of the increased power and also the braking performance.

“I didn’t worry about my lap times, I just focused on getting used to the F1 car and completing the 300 kilometres.

“I’m pleased to have managed it. I did a lot of physical training to prepare for this, but even so, I was a little bit tired at the end of the day, but very happy with the experience.

“There is so much more a driver has to do in an F1 car, but I had practiced dealing with all the extra switches on the steering wheel in the simulator.”

Tsunoda is being considered for a seat at AlphaTauri in 2021, where he would replace Daniil Kvyat at the Faenza-based outfit.

Honda is keen for its protege driver to be promoted next year in what will be the Japanese manufacturer’s final season before it leaves F1.

AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost was full of praise for Tsunoda’s debut F1 test, saying his familiarity with the car was “quite impressive”.

“We had a very productive first test here in Imola with Yuki Tsunoda and we were able to complete 352km,” Tost said. “It was a bit damp in the morning, so we started the day on full wet tyres.

“Even so, Yuki got immediately familiar with the car, which means that when we changed to the dry tyres he improved his lap times straight away and it was quite impressive.

“After the lunch break we continued on with new sets of tyres and he improved further, showing that he was feeling more comfortable in the car, lap by lap. Yuki gave valuable technical feedback regarding the behaviour of the car, which was in line with what we expected.

“In his last run, he did a race simulation and he was very consistent, which is clear evidence he had everything under control. We are looking forward to his next test in Abu Dhabi, when he will be doing the young driver test for Scuderia AlphaTauri.”

Tsunoda said his focus now lies with F2 ahead of the final two rounds in Bahrain, where he sits third in the drivers’ standings with two victories.

“Overall, the day was great fun and part of that came from having this session at the high speed Imola track, which made it even more interesting,” he said.

“Ahead of me are two more F2 rounds, four more races and I will just concentrate on each session over the two weekends and then we can see what the result is at the end of it all.”

Tsunoda is expected to feature for AlphaTauri in an F1 practice session later this year, although nothing has been confirmed by the team.