Last week, Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull and will make his debut for the team in his home race in Japan next week. In an extensive interview, he talks about his mood swings and working with a psychologist.
You mentioned four years ago that you were working with a psychologist. Are you still doing that?
“Actually, I did that until Formula 2. But I still have someone who helps me. Sometimes, when I feel alone, or emotionally down, I call him. Just to talk, to recover. That’s it. He helps me when needed. So much happens within a racing team, it’s sometimes quite unstable. But I know what I need to do. Outside of that, there are sometimes things I struggle with, just like any other person. An argument with friends, love problems… Just, the normal things. But to be very honest: I am happy with how I am now and how things are going.”
You have now acclimatized in Europe. But what was it like to leave Japan as a teenager and step into a different world?
“In terms of mentality and emotions about being away from Japan: all of that went pretty well. One of my high school friends came to Europe to help me a bit. He organizes and arranges things for me, which I actually don’t have time for. Because I want to focus on racing. That’s why I wasn’t that lonely. In the second year, when I was here alone, I sometimes felt quite lonely.” That time is far behind him, Tsunoda emphasizes and gives an example. “After the race in Singapore, I flew to Japan. Then I flew back to Europe, before we went to Austin (USA). You know what was surprising? That I missed Europe. I now actually feel more at home in Europe than in Japan. My mindset has completely changed in that respect: Europe is better for me. I feel at home there, I find it relaxing.”
