Tsunoda only '50 percent happy' with top-ten F1 debut

©AlphaTauri

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Yuki Tsunoda became the first Japanese driver to score points on an F1 debut thanks to his P9 finish in Sunday's Bahrain GP, but the AlphaTauri rookie is a hard man to please, admitting to being only "50 percent" happy with his remarkable result.

Tsunoda struggled on the opening lap at Sakhir, losing two spots from his P13 starting position. But gradually, the diminutive 20-year-old found his footing and battled his way into the points, reeling in Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and passing the Canadian on the race's final lap.

"I’m glad to get points," he said after the race. "I lost quite a lot of positions on the first lap. That was my big mistake and I had to recover from there.

"I’m happy 50 per cent, but still 50 per cent it was my big mistake.

"It was possible to go more forward for positions, so first points feel ok, but I think there was a lot of space to improve this race in Imola."

©AlphaTauri

AlphaTauri's hopes of a top-ten finish were pinned on Tsunoda from the outset after Pierre Gasly had put himself out of contention following a contact with McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo.

"The pace was good," he added. "Last three laps I was behind Stroll and I got dirty air and really, really struggled to adapt to that dirty air and [made] quite a lot of mistakes.

"So last lap, first corner, there was still quite a big gap but I sent it. Glad that I passed him and happy for the first point."

2021 Bahrain Grand Prix - Race results

However, the high point in Bahrain for the young gun was his mid-race scrap with one of his childhood hero's, Fernando Alonso.

Tsunoda got the upper hand over the Alpine driver as the pair enjoyed a mid-race scrap.

"It was a little bit emotional," he confessed. "The last time I saw Alonso racing was 13 years ago – I was watching at Fuji Speedway when he was driving for McLaren and Renault. I’m really proud.

"I was really happy that I overtook him, of course it’s not the same car, but yeah, I was happy."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.