Japanese · Sagamihara, Japan · Born 11 May 2000Japanese Formula 1 driver who became the first Japanese F1 driver since Kamui Kobayashi, competing for AlphaTauri/RB team since 2021 debut season
Yuki Tsunoda was born on 11 May 2000 in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan, and raised in Tokyo, beginning competitive kart racing at nine years old. He progressed rapidly through Japan's junior single-seater ladder, winning the Super FJ, JAF Japan F4, and Japanese F4 championships in consecutive seasons before moving to Europe to further his career. Tsunoda won both the FIA Rookie of the Year and Anthoine Hubert Award in Formula 2 in 2020, catching the attention of Red Bull's junior driver programme, and made his Formula One debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, becoming one of the most prominent Japanese drivers in the sport since the era of Kamui Kobayashi. Tsunoda spent several seasons with the Red Bull-affiliated junior team, renowned for his fiery on-track temperament and increasingly consistent performances, before being promoted to the senior Red Bull Racing team in 2025, fulfilling a long-held ambition within the Red Bull driver pipeline. Tsunoda has continued to develop into one of the most popular drivers on the grid, particularly in Japan, where his rise has helped sustain the country's passionate following of Formula One since the retirement of earlier Japanese stars.
Being the first Japanese driver to score points in his F1 debut season since Kamui Kobayashi
How They Played
Aggressive driving style with strong racecraft and adaptability
Lasting Impact
Rising Japanese talent in Formula 1, representing AlphaTauri/RB team
Career Honours
- Formula 3 race winner
- Formula 2 race winner
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Sutekina Racing Team (F4 Japanese Championship) | 2016 | 2 |
| Honda (F4 Japanese Championship) | 2017–2018 | — |
| Jenzer Motorsport (FIA Formula 3) | 2019 | 18 |
| Motopark (Euroformula Open) | 2019 | — |
| Carlin (FIA Formula 2) | 2020 | 24 |
| Scuderia AlphaTauri (Formula 1) | 2021–2023 | 61 |
| Visa Cash App RB / Racing Bulls (Formula 1) | 2024–2025 | 24 |
| Red Bull Racing (Formula 1) | 2025 | 19 |
| Red Bull Racing & Racing Bulls (Reserve Driver) | 2026 | — |
| Career Total | — | 148 |
Japanese Athletes