Who is Yuki Tsunoda, the fiery F1 driver fined for an ableist slur at the Austrian Grand Prix, and could he become Japan’s first world champion?

Jul 7 , 2024

Who is Yuki Tsunoda? The fiery Japanese F1 driver blazed a meteoric path to the upper echelon of motorsports and got into trouble in Austria – but could he be a World Champion? Photo: Reuters

On the track, the diminutive F1 driver is known for his aggressive racing style, hot temper and foul-mouthed radio messages; he found himself in hot water after the most recent Grand Prix

Off-track, Tsunoda is better known for his dapper fashion, goofball antics and an insatiable love of food; he dreams of one day opening his own restaurant

Japanese F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda made headlines this week, though unfortunately not for his performance at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. Tsunoda, who drives for the RB Formula One team, was slapped with a €40,000 (US$43,190) fine for using an ableist slur over his team radio during a qualifying segment.

Though he quickly apologised for his actions, noting on social media that English isn’t his first language and he didn’t realise the full extent of the word’s meaning – fans and the media pointed out that this wasn’t the first time the driver has been in hot water for his fiery temper.

Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda takes his RB VCARB 01 around the Red Bull Ring during the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, on June 30. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tsunoda is notorious for his aggressive radio messages, which often come in fraught moments on the track. He was also captured spewing profanity during a qualifying session at the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix. Still, Tsunoda continues to be popular at home, as he’s the only Japanese driver on the current grid. His off-track antics also endear him to audiences around the world, whether it’s fan-girling over actor Jason Statham at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, rocking fashion-forward outfits, complaining about training, or dreaming about opening his own restaurant.

Yuki Tsunoda captured in the AlphaTauri garage in a post reflecting on his performance at the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023. Photo: @yukitsunoda0511/Instagram

Despite Japan’s passion for motorsport – and its myriad of carmakers forming racing teams – the country has yet to produce an F1 champion. But commentators of the sport – including Red Bull Racing doyen Dr Helmut Marko – believe that could change thanks to Tsunoda, who continues to prove himself a worthy driver. He’s already smashed records as he steadily raced his way to the F1 grid, and his meteoric rise from F4 through to F1 mean that stepping onto the F1 podium as a world champion could be a possibility. As it currently stands though, he’ll have an uphill battle on his hands.

Yuki Tsunoda shows off his special edition helmet for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix 2023. Photo: @yukitsunoda0511/Instagram

To be the first Japanese FIA Formula One World Champion, Tsunoda will have to jump through more than a few daunting hoops. For one, he’ll need a better car, and for that he’ll have to prove to his bosses that he deserves an upgrade to Red Bull Racing – the drinks giant also owns VCARB – to race alongside current world champion Max Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda waves to his fans at his home race at the Suzuka track in Japan this April. Photo: @yukitsunoda0511/Instagram

Tsunoda’s racing adventures began back home in Japan at age four when his father, Nobuaki Tsunoda, a former gymkhana motorsport racer himself, took him karting. He was immediately drawn to the sport and got his first taste of professional racing in 2010 when he joined the JAF Junior Karting Championship at just 10 years old.