Double interview: Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda

AlphaTauri’s press service invited the team’s riders to answer a series of questions about motorsport, about their careers and to talk about other related topics, and here’s what happened…

Q: When did you first meet?
Pierre Gasly: In 2020 in Abu Dhabi.

Yuuki Tsunoda: And in my opinion it was in Japan on the Motegi track, but in 2016 or 2017? No, in 2018!

Question: How would you describe yourself in one word?
Pierre Gasly: Competitive.

Yuuki Tsunoda: Powerful. I think so…

Q: What is the main purpose of your life?
Pierre Gasly: I want to win a Formula 1 title.

Yuuki Tsunoda: Become world champion.

Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a racing driver?
Pierre Gasly: When I first started karting, I was six years old.

Yuuki Tsunoda: At one point I was karting.

Q: When have you experienced the strongest emotions behind the wheel of a racing car?
Pierre Gasly: In 2020 at Monza when I got my first Formula 1 win.

Yuuki Tsunoda: I would say it was back in Formula 2, in the season finale. In my opinion I then won the main race of the weekend and earned enough points to get a super license.

Share the most vivid memories of your entire motorsport career…
Pierre Gasly: They are about when I climbed to the top of the podium in Monza in 2020. Unfortunately at the time there were no fans on the track at all and yet I experienced the most joyous feeling.

Yuuki Tsunoda: The best moment was when I drove a Formula 1 car for the first time.

Q: What was your worst memory?
Yuki Tsunoda: Probably when I ran into Pierre’s car.

Pierre Gasly: Once, in the days of karting, my car’s brakes failed and I crashed into a wall at 100 mph. I broke my wrist and elbow then…

Q: Worst memory of something that happened off the track?
Pierre Gasly: The moment I heard of the death of Antoine Hubert in Spa. And speaking of an event that has nothing to do with racing at all, it was an accident I had on my way to Silverstone in 2016. My family was in the car with me and my mother then ended up in intensive care.

Yuuki Tsunoda: The worst is when I see Japanese food on social media but I don’t get a chance to try it.

Q: If you had the chance to thank the person who played the most important role in your career, who would you thank?
Pierre Gasly: There were many people who helped and supported me, but of course I would put my parents first on this list. They have been with me from the beginning. They had something to do with motorsport, so they immediately started looking for sponsors for me.

For example, my mother, who came home from work, immediately started searching the Internet for funding sources for my career and was able to do this until 4 a.m. My parents really helped me a lot, I was kind of a family project.

Yuuki Tsunoda: I am grateful to my parents, especially my father. He took an active part in my career and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have made it to Formula 1. And I am very happy that our shared dream has come true. But of course I also have to thank Honda and Red Bull.

Q: What have you learned by becoming a Formula 1 driver?
Pierre Gasly: I have learned to always believe in my dream and never give up when it comes to something very important. After all, it often happens that people give up on their dreams, lose confidence in themselves. It’s important to keep doing what you consider your own.

I have always believed that I could break through in Formula 1, even in the most difficult times. But for this it is important to be psychologically well prepared.

Yuki Tsunoda: I’ve learned to communicate with the press because there’s a lot of it in our work.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned while working with the team?
Yuki Tsunoda: Loved Italian food.

Pierre Gasly: I have learned to work as a real team. From the outside, Formula 1 looks like an individual sport, but in fact it is a team sport. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t have a close-knit team around you who will, as far as possible, try to get the best car ready for you.

Q: The most helpful advice you’ve ever received…
Yuuki Tsunoda: To make progress, you have to think for yourself in every situation. And no matter what happens, you always bear personal responsibility.

Pierre Gasly: It is necessary to spend as little time as possible on braking. This is very important for a rider!

I remember when I was younger, Jean Alesi said to me: “You have to build a career gradually. But you should always believe in yourself and work hard every day.”