角田裕毅、待望の日本ＧＰデビューへ意気込み

【三重ＡＦＰ＝時事】２２Ｆ１第１８戦日本ＧＰの決勝を９日に控えるアルファタウリの角田裕毅は、４年前はスタンドからレースを観戦していたものの、今回は鈴鹿サーキットに飾られた自身の巨大ポスターに出迎えられた。（写真は角田裕毅）
　Ｆ１で２シーズン目に臨んでいる２２歳の角田は、新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ－１９）のパンデミック（世界的な大流行）で３年ぶりの開催となる日本ＧＰで待望の初出場を果たす。グランドスタンドには自身の巨大ポスターが３枚掲げられているものの特に重圧は感じておらず、逆に母国ファンからもたらされる「さらなるエネルギー」を楽しみにしているという。
　すでに来季も残留することでアルファタウリと合意している角田は、６日の記者会見で「４年前は観客の一人にすぎなかったので、こうして日本のファンの前で走れるのは想像しにくい」とし、「グランドスタンドの巨大ポスターも予想していなかった。すごくサポートしてくれていると感じるし、さらなるエネルギーになる」と語った。
　日本に帰国した際には、空港で出迎えたりホテルの外で待ち受けていたりする大勢のファンからもみくちゃにされた角田。ＦＩＡ－Ｆ４選手権で走ったときよりも、よりパワフルなマシンで鈴鹿サーキットを経験するのを楽しみにしていると語った。
　「前回、鈴鹿でレースしたときは優勝したので、それが良いイメージになる」
　「Ｆ１をドライブするのとはかなり違いがあって、うまくビルドアップをする必要がある。それでも、自分が経験した中で最高のサーキットの一つだと思う」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/10/07-11:18）

Four years ago Yuki Tsunoda was watching the Japanese Grand Prix from the stands -- now giant pictures of his face welcome him to the Suzuka circuit as he prepares to drive in Sunday's race.
Tsunoda is in his second season in Formula One with Alpha Tauri and will make his long-awaited Japanese Grand Prix debut when the race returns from a three-year absence because of the pandemic.
The 22-year-old says he feels no pressure despite three huge pictures of his face adorning the grandstand.
Instead he is looking forward to the extra energy he says the home fans will bring him.
It's just hard to imagine I'm driving there because four years ago I was one of the spectators watching these guys here, and now I'm driving in front of the Japanese fans, Tsunoda, who has already agreed to stay with Alpha Tauri next season, said Thursday.
I didn't expect the huge pictures at the grandstand. It feels really supportive and gives me extra energy.
Tsunoda said he has been mobbed on his return to Japan, with fans welcoming him at the airport and waiting outside his hotel.
He said he is looking forward to experiencing the Suzuka circuit in a more powerful car, having previously raced there in Formula Four.
The last time I drove here at Suzuka I won, so it's a good memory, said Tsunoda, the first Japanese driver in Formula One since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.
It's a lot different driving Formula One so I need a good build-up. Still, I think it's one of the best tracks in my experience.
Tsunoda came fourth in last year's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for his best finish.
His best result this season was a seventh-place finish at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix but he has failed to complete a race four times.
He crashed out on his 36th lap at last week's Singapore Grand Prix and he said he still has a lot to learn before the end of the season.
For sure, the kind of mistakes I did in Singapore have to be reduced and a lot of things like penalties, those things are unnecessary, he said.
Those things I definitely have to improve but at the same time the pace with one lap I'm quite happy with and I've had progress so far.