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Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda to race for AlphaTauri F1 next season

Sports Desk, Dec 16 (efe-epa).- Yuki Tsunoda is to become the first Japanese Formula One racer since 2014 after grabbing a seat with AlphaTauri for next season.

The 20-year-old rookie, who will be the first F1 driver born after 2000, came third in the F2 championship this year.

Tsunoda will replace Russian driver Daniil Kvyat and will partner up with Frenchman Pierre Gasly for Red Bull’s sister team on the grid next year.

In a Twitter post, the Japanese driver said: “I am very happy to announce that I will be racing for Scuderia AlphaTauri in Formula 1 next season! A massive thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way. I can’t wait to start working with the team and embark on this new journey.”

He added in a statement to F1’s in-house media outlet: “I want to thank Scuderia AlphaTauri, Red Bull and Dr. Marko for giving me this opportunity, and of course everyone from Honda, for all their support so far in my career, giving me great opportunities to race in Europe.”

Franz Tost, AlphaTauri team principal, said: “Red Bull has been following Yuki’s career for a while now and I am sure he will be a great asset to our team.

“Watching him in Formula 2 this year, he has demonstrated the right mix of racing aggression and good technical understanding.”

Tsunoda becomes the first Japanese driver on the F1 grid since Kamui Kobayashi, who raced for Caterham in 2014.

With the move, Kvyat will leave F1.

Another figure jumping category next season is Mick Schumacher, son of F1 legend Michael, who will race for Haas next year, having won the 2020 F2 championship. EFE

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