You can listen to Tuukka Taponen’s thoughts in the F1 episode of Urheilu’s podcast. Roope Visuri and Urheilu’s F1 expert Jukka Mildh go through the hottest topics of the F1 season that has started. According to Jukka Mildh, Taponen’s schedule for the F1 series is even moderate.
Finland has been handsomely represented in the royal class of motor sports in the F1 series for 33 years straight. Now blue and white colors are worn by those who drive Alfa Romeo Valtteri Bottas.
After him, no new Finn has reached Formula 1. Bottas debuted in the series in 2013. He is already 33 years old.
Bottas’ current contract with Alfa Romeo covers this and the next season (you will switch to another service). The situation after that is so far shrouded in obscurity.
He has been regarded as the most potential next Finnish F1 driver in sports circles Tuukka from Tapo.
The 16-year-old from Lohja was selected for Ferrari’s academy at the end of last year. Tapose became the first Finnish karting world champion a year and a half ago. He won the World Cup medal in karting no less than three years in a row.
Taponen has already driven the Middle East F4 series this year. The rookie driver won four races and was second overall. Only another Ferrari junior, an Australian, managed to get ahead James Wharton.
This year, Taponen is still competing in the Italian F4 series. It’s more than a month until the start of the hard-level series. In addition to the tests, we prepare for it in the fabled Maranello.
The city in northern Italy in the province of Modena is known as the home of Ferrari.
Taponen moved to Maranello at the beginning of the year.
This is what everyday life is like in Maranello
On a normal day, Taponen wakes up like other drivers in a house where academy drivers have their own rooms.
They travel 15 minutes from the countryside to Ferrari’s premises, where the group works out both physical and mental fitness. The exercise program also includes performing in front of an audience.
– Things like that outside the track, Taponen illustrates in Urheilu’s podcast.
At the end of the day, we travel back to the academy drivers’ residence, eat and go to bed.
Although F1 is known for its glamour, it is still far from the small formulas. The junior drivers do not have their own chef in the Ferrari academy either. Taponen cooks his own food or sometimes goes to a restaurant.
– I’m not very good at cooking. Pasta with minced meat sauce is quite good, Taponen reveals his bravura.
It is common in Italian football clubs that younger players and top names may collide with each other.
Football pledge representing the big club AC Milan I am Sevenius told Urheilu at the beginning of the year that he had gone to stop the Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic and asked for a photo together.
Taponen has yet to see Ferrari’s F1 stars in Maranello Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainzbut he has managed to become a team manager by Frederic Vasseur and the competition department of the F1 team By Laurent Mekies with to exchange a few words.
– Vasseur and I talked about these things at the beginning of the year. Didn’t feel like talking terribly. We had a chat with Mekies and I asked a little about where Ferrari is behind the others, Taponen observes, but does not want to go any further to specify the contents of the discussions.
However, Taponen’s favorite to win the F1 series can be found in the Ferrari team.
– I support Leclerc. I hope he wins the championship. Maybe it doesn’t seem like it’s possible. Hopefully they will be able to improve the weaknesses, Taponen formulates.
Resulting and raw game
In general, becoming an F1 driver is hard work. Drivers should constantly demonstrate their abilities and skills in order to always get to the next step.
Taponen already knows his toughest competitors beyond the stable boundaries from his karting years.
The family setting is far away when you are competing on the track.
– We are always racing partners on the track. No matter how good friends we are off the track. Some want and try to be friends outside the track, but they are not actually friends on the track, says Taponen.
So far, Taponen has been moving forward in his career at a fast pace. Wharton is now driving his second season in Formula 4 cars, as is the McLaren junior who finished third in the Middle East series Ugo Ugochukwu. However, Taponen is a debutant. For this reason, the Finnish promise was satisfied with the competition weekend at the beginning of the year.
– There was a lot of improvement from the first race weekend to the last. We were really happy with Ferrari, Taponen said about his first race series of the season.
The Italian F4 series also features the same duo against Tapo. The whole trio drives in small formulas for the Prema team, which has produced many F1 stars and is located near Ferrara.
– At least it’s not easier. The level is really hard. However, the purpose is to go for a profit. It is always sought after. A ranking in the top three would also be good, says Taponen.
Tapose hasn’t had any big setbacks in his young career yet. However, the Finnish promise has also prepared for this by practicing the mental side.
– It’s good training. Understand that you can’t always win. Then you tolerate the fact that you can’t always be the fastest, says Taponen.
According to Taponen, the transition from karting cars to formulas has also been painless from a physical point of view. According to the Finn, the variable karting class car has felt worse than a Formula 4 car.
However, in this sense, the eyes are also further, when he works hard for his dream. The hands are currently being trained so that they are ready for the bigger formula classes.
– If things go well, next year will certainly be tougher. That’s why we train here in Maranello, says Taponen.
F1 talks warm the mind
At the moment, Taponen is following the same path as the top teams in the F1 series with Ferrari and Red Bull Charles Leclerc mixed Sergio Perez. Being part of the F1 academy does not guarantee a place in the royal class.
He has previously said publicly that he wants to be the next Finnish F1 world champion.
Now, in Taponen’s eyes, promotion to the F1 series is recorded until 2028, i.e. five years from now.
– That is currently our goal. We try to go one year at a time. If this trend continues in the F4 classes and there are podium positions in most of the races, it is pointless to stay in the F4 classes. Let’s go up as fast as possible. But we don’t do it so that we are too quickly in formula one. Let’s take it easy, but moving forward all the time, Taponen reveals his plans.
According to his own words, he does not take pressure from outsiders’ F1 speeches.
– There is still such a long way to get there. If such things are talked about, it just gives me more self-confidence and an extra boost, Taponen states.