Tsunoda learned from Round 1 experience

Yuki Tsunoda is a quick learner. He proved as much on numerous occasions in Formula 3 last season, and is doing so again in the top tier of junior formula.

The Carlin racer has taken P1 in both Free Practice sessions so far this season, but the first time around, was unable to convert it to pole. He made no mistake on Friday, leading for almost the entire session to take pole for the Feature Race today.

“We took the experiences from last week,” he explained. “This time we went top early, and that's why I'm in pole position.

“We were in the fast lane last week, and then there was red flag. A car went off the track in front of me, so the red flag meant I couldn't do a push lap in the second stint.”

Tsunoda is undertaking just his second season of racing in Europe and surprised fans in F3 last season, with assured and exciting performances, which culminated in a race win at Monza, in the penultimate round.

Stepping up to F2, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that he’d take his time to adapt, and yet, Tsunoda has already proven that he has the ability to fight at the front in 2020.

He continued: “From Bahrain I had a really good feeling with the tyre, and also with the team. I was confident I had the pace, so I'm just doing my job and driving well.

"It is definitely going to be tough, but we have good race experience from last year, because Carlin have shown me a lot of things. I have confidence from today and I will just do my job.

“I don't know what the weather will do, but if it is wet, it is going to be close. I don't know how it is going to be, but I will just do my job to win the race.”