'Tsunoda has it infinitely harder than, say, Schumacher'

Yuki Tsunoda has it a lot harder than Mick Schumacher thinks former Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato. Especially the young Japanese driver's rapid rise from Japanese Formula 4 to Formula 1 would make it a lot harder.

Formula 1 will have three rookies in 2021: Tsunoda, Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. According to Sato, it is logical that it is the most difficult for the former. "Every single one of us observed already that Yuki's raw speed isn't in question. He has tremendous speed and he's a very fast guy but he's only 20-years-old and was still racing in Japanese Formula 4 three years ago," said Sato at the In the Fast Lane podcast.

"Yuki has had a rapid rise, and he has it infinitely harder than, say, Mick Schumacher," continued Sato, who himself has been on the Formula One podium once. What also makes a big difference according to Sato is the teammate Tsunoda has. "of course there is rookie drivers like Mick Schumacher, but that's rookie to rookie [Nikita Mazepin], and Yuki has to go against one of the fastest young guys in Pierre Gasly."

Sato thinks Tsunoda is not being looked at fairly. He expects his compatriot's performance to improve quickly once Tsunoda gains some confidence in the car. "I think he has all the conditions to grow into a very good Formula One driver. We just need to give him some more time."