ah...brings back the year 2000 memories...
Minardi: "Yuki Tsunoda a better driver than Mick Schumacher" https://www.gptoday.net/nl/nieuws/f1/260906/minardi-yuki-tsunoda-een-betere-coureur-dan-mick-schumacher Expectations for Scuderia AlphaTauri debutant Yuki Tsunoda are high. The Japanese finished third in the Formula 2 championship last year. Another rookie on the Formula 1 grid for this year, Mick Schumacher , took the title. Former team boss Giancarlo Minardi, however, attributes more talent to Tsunoda than Mick Schumacher. Last year, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher had more Formula 2 experience and less bad luck than Tsunoda, who raced in the front porch of Formula 1 for the first time. Nevertheless, Tsunoda made more impression, especially in the second half of the season. Minardi has seen plenty of young riders pass by in his time and is known for his nose for talent. The Italian expects a lot from Tsunoda. "Without a doubt, Yuki will be the most successful debutant this year. His car is also much better than that of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin , but Tsunoda is also just a better driver overall. I saw him in Imola doing a second. year old car and it impressed me a lot. Yuki has become so good, "Minardi told Gazzetta dello Sport. The former owner of the team where Tsunoda will make his debut this year thinks that the Japanese took the title in Formula 2 last year without any technical problems, and not Mick Schumacher. "Yuki started in Formula 2 in the middle bracket, but he became one of the best drivers. His secret also lies in the Japanese way of doing things. Japanese are often very modest, but Tsunoda combines that with enormous determination and tremendous value. a lot of speed ", Minardi concludes.
Mick is talented but will need luck and more work than those who have more of the gift such as Yuki. Yuki will be in a position further up grid which will bring more focus on him as well. Mick should be in Alfa. Haas is a joke!!
Not much race coverage on the back of the grid (well, Mazepin draws some unfortunate attention). But Mick is at least out-qualifying his teammate and seems to be quietly keeping his nose fairly clean. Looking at 2022. Are Kimi and Giovanazzi staying put? There's some more young F2 talent looking for seats. Can only hope Haas fares better with the new Formula.
Beating Mazepin is not really saying much. I'm more impressed with him duking it out with the Williams drivers. And yes, he is not making many mistakes (did a costly blunder in Imola). Hoping too that he'll get a better ride for next year. At least he is learning the ropes of F1 without much spotlight and pressure on him. Might be a blessing in disguise as he was lifted from F2 fairly quickly.
Agreed. I thought it might be an early upgrade as well, but it was good timing re: the F2 Championship as far as earning an F1 spot vs it being given to him for his name.