Yuki Tsunoda is further stepping up his preparations for his Formula 🦩1 debut this season by completing some running at Imola with AlphaTauri.

The 20-year-old Japanese driver has replaced Daniil Kvyat as Pierre Gasly’s teammate𓄧 at AlphaTauri for the upcoming 2021 F1 campaign following an impressive rookie Formula 2 season last year.

Tsunoda, who is backed by both Honda and Red Bull, previously took part in his first F1 test for Al🦩phaTauri at Imola last November driving a 2018-spec Toro Rosso STR13 car, before running for the team at the post-season young driver test in Abu Dhabi the following monthꦡ.

On Wednesday Tsunoda returned to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix venue for a second run with the Faenza squad, th൲is time driving the team’s 2019 STR14 Toro Rosso in the 2020 livery.

F1’s regulations allow for teams to complete unrestricted mileage during tests with cars that are at least two🤪 years old. As a result, AlphaTauri is taking the opportuni🍬ty to provide Tsunoda with the chance to rack up some extra running ahead of his rookie season.

With pre-season testing cut to a single event featuring just three days of on-track action this year, Tsunoda will only get the one and a half days behind the wheel of AlphaTauri’s 2021 car before he contests his first grand ღprix in Bahrain a fortnight later, meaning any additional track time has increased value.

Testing at Imola not onl🌜y makes logistical sense for AlphaTauri, but it will also provide the team and Tsunoda with som🍎e valuable data with the circuit returning to the F1 calendar to host the second round of the season on 18 April. 

AlphaTa🍌uri is hoping to ha🥃nd Tsunoda a fourth test at Misano next month.

Tsunoda is not the only F1 driver in action today, with Carlos Sainz making his debut for Feꦿrrari at Fiorano as part of a five-day private test🌺.