‘I Will Forever Thank Him for This’: Formula 1 Star Yuki Tsunoda Reveals He Discovered Gin and Tonics on Max Verstappen’s Private Jet
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Yuki Tsunoda of Japan seen during the Red Bull Unserious Race Series at the Erzberg in Eisenerz, Austria on June 13, 2023. (Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool via AP Images)
During a “Pilot Profession” panel at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Italy, an unexpected passion for gin and tonics was revealed by AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, who attributes his own discovery of the iconic cocktail to fellow Formula 1 (F1) star Max Verstappen. Tsunoda also unveiled a lesser-known facet of his journey into F1, which pivots around his initial aversion to the sport’s booming engine roars.
As reported by Gazzetta on Friday, Tsunoda’s F1 journey began with a visit to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where the sound of the cars left him desiring a swift exit. The deafening noise seemed insurmountable, and he even expressed his displeasure to his father during that visit. However, Tsunoda’s perspective gradually transformed, and over time he began to appreciate the sounds that define the sport.
“When for the first time my father took me to Suzuka to watch a race I thought the noise was terrible, so much so that I said: ‘let’s go away, I can’t stand it any longer,'” Tsunoda shared. “Then things change, and the noise becomes music.”
Interestingly, Tsunoda’s F1 escapades took an unexpected turn during an encounter with Max Verstappen. Beyond Verstappen’s tough on-track demeanor, Tsunoda found a friendly and genial individual. On a private jet excursion, Verstappen introduced Tsunoda to the world of gin and tonics, an experience that left a lasting impression on the AlphaTauri driver.
“Verstappen is not as he appears, he is a very nice guy: it was he who made me discover some excellent gin-tonic on his private jet. I will forever thank him for this.”
During the panel, Tsunoda also expressed his love of another type of drink — Prosecco.
“It was very easy to adapt here,” he said of his life in Italy. “I’m crazy about your cooking, pasta and pizza obviously. I also lived in England, but there is no comparison with Italian food, not at all. And then I like to go out and see people drinking, or rather, I like to drink a good glass of Prosecco.”
In other recent F1 news, Jack Daniel’s announced last week that it will join forces with producer and DJ Metro Boomin for two performances at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The brand also announced the release of a limited-edition T-shirt with a label redesigned by Metro Boomin.
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