Why it matters:
F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, known for his deep passion for food and his 'paddock foodie' reputation, has become a global brand ambassador for HexClad cookware. This partnership, announced alongside world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay, perfectly aligns with Tsunoda's well-established culinary interests.
The details:
- Tsunoda has long discussed local cuisine at press conferences, even joking in 2022 that moving to Italy improved his energy due to better food.
- His love for food has led him to star in cooking videos for Racing Bulls and Formula 1, with his food-related social media clips frequently going viral.
- In 2023, he shared his ambition to open his own restaurant after achieving his primary goal of becoming an F1 World Champion.
- Tsunoda explained his passion for food stemmed from being Japanese and discovering diverse food cultures in Europe, while realizing his fondness for Japanese cuisine. He enjoys Italian and Mexican food, especially tacos, in addition to Japanese.
The partnership:
- The collaboration was unveiled in a video featuring both Tsunoda and Ramsay, who is a regular attendee at F1 weekends. The video showed Tsunoda cooking a steak for Ramsay, a chef awarded a combined 17 Michelin stars.
- Fan reactions on social media highlighted the natural fit, with comments like "Oh this is perfect" and requests for a "Yuki and Gordon Ramsay TV show." Even Tsunoda's former trainer, Michael Italiano, humorously doubted Tsunoda's cooking skills, commenting, "There's no way you cooked that meat. Looks way too good."
What's next:
Yuki Tsunoda will be back on track this weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.