Tsunoda on Formula E: 'I didn’t expect the amount of power this car has'

The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix last month brought motorsport fans from far and wide to watch history being made. Won by Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther, the race attracted the biggest names in Japanese motor racing including Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 driver, Yuki Tsunoda. 

Tsunoda, who recently achieved championship points at his home race in Suzuka, paid a visit to the Formula E paddock on the World Championship’s first visit to Japan, ahead of F1’s Japanese Grand Prix the following week. 

As well as experiencing what the all-electric racing series had to offer and catching up with old friends, the 23-year-old took part in important activities with the FIA Girls On Track programme. 

The current F1 driver made a surprise appearance at the FIA Girls on Track event, which hosted groups of young Japanese women interested in a future in motorsports. Here they heard from industry experts and tried their hand at go-karting. There was also a simulator available, and naturally being a racing driver at heart, Tsunoda couldn’t keep himself away! 

“The first time I drove the Formula E simulator was yesterday and I didn’t expect the amount of power this car has,” Tsunoda confessed when speaking to Talk Sport’s Jon Jackson on the Tokyo grid. 

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In addition to his Girls on Track commitments, with similar events being held at races across Formula E’s Season 10 calendar, he made sure to have some wholesome reunions. One lovely catch up came on the starting grid, as Tsunoda chatted with Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries. 

The two were previously teammates in Formula 1 when they raced for AlphaTauri last year. De Vries made the move back to Formula E this season, having been crowned the first World Champion in Season 7. Now with Mahindra Racing, the four-time race winner is looking for his first points of the year as the championship heads to Misano this weekend. 

“I had a good catch up with Nyck [de Vries], he's definitely doing a very good job this year,” Tsunoda continued. “I mean, last year as well. Hopefully he can achieve a good result. I'm sure he's still developing the car but he’s a very fast driver – that's very clear. Also his feedback is always amazing. So I'm sure one day this team will be successful.”

As for racing in the heart of Tokyo and being the capital’s first legal street race, Yuki was very envious: ”I’m very jealous that in Formula E they get to do big events, like in the middle of Tokyo!”

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Joining Tsunoda were guests like two-time Indy500 champion Takuma Sato popped into the paddock, almost a decade on from his Formula E debut. 

"It is mega for Formula E, Japan and motorsport in this country – the impact will be huge," Sato said about the inaugural Tokyo E-Prix taking place this weekend. "There’s no history of street track formula racing in Japan whatsoever and this will bring an enormous future for Japanese motor racing.

"The fans will be really excited to see it for the first time in person. I’ve a lot of good friends here, even after 10 years – it’s been really nice to see them. I’m just so happy to look at a beautiful sunset in Tokyo with Formula E finally coming to Japan – it’s such an exciting moment."