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Tsunoda: If I can win Suzuka that would be great

Yuki Tsunoda has already made an impression in his rookie F1 season and hopes to give fans in Japan the result they want when the calendar reaches Suzuka.

Yuki Tsunoda might be focusing on gaining experience in his first year as an F1 driver but he's also hopeful of a potential win at his home track of Suzuka. The AlphaTauri rookie - who finished his debut race in Bahrain in ninth place - has received huge support from fans in Japan, particularly after his countryman Hideki Matsuyama recently won the Masters Tournament in the golfing world. Tsunoda would love to experience similar success and be able to win in front of his home fans later in the year. "Especially after Matsuyama won the Masters, I got lots of messages from Japanese fans," Tsunoda told Sky Sports F1. "[Messages saying] 'we are waiting for your first win'. "For me, I'm just focusing now on my driving, and try to improve my driving, also get experience as much as possible each race. If I win in Suzuka, that would be really great. "Hopefully I can win in front of the Japanese fans." Tsunoda is already looking for ways to improve on his impressive debut performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, as he feels that he could have potentially achieved an even better result. "I found a lot of space to learn, to improve from Bahrain," the new Formula 1 driver said. "Because I was expecting a higher position to be honest before the race. "For me I would say top six was possible." Tsunoda is one of three rookies in the 2021 F1 season alongside Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, all of whom made the step up from Formula 2 last year. The Japanese driver proved to be the most successful in the opening race of the calendar, with Schumacher and Mazepin both struggling more with the Haas car.

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