17-Year-Old Racer Nicknamed ‘Robot’ Makes History with First Japanese National Anthem at Imola F1

Even with dreams in mind, many young people studying abroad struggle with differences in environment and culture. There are many sweet temptations. Some may be swayed by those around them and waste precious time on easier paths. Countless athletes and researchers face these challenges. But Yamakoshi was different. Even on days off from classes and races, he never missed training and studied races on YouTube.

“With internet access, I could keep up with popular Japanese TV shows and trends. However, I chose not to. I wasn’t interested.”

The image of Shohei Ohtani, who is still called a “baseball kid” at 30 and spends most of his private life on baseball, came to mind. Unlike team sports like baseball, Yamakoshi has no colleagues or teammates to call his own. He must self-regulate, motivate himself, and continue fighting alone. I was deeply impressed by his stoicism and mental strength. However, even “Yamakoshi has something he fears.”

“An accident, yes. As long as it’s motorsport, accidents can’t be completely avoided”

Hearing the word “scary,” I thought I was finally seeing a 17-year-old’s true face, but I was surprised by the reason behind it.

“If I have an accident, the machine gets damaged and costs money to repair. It would be troublesome for the sponsors. Also, if I get injured, I won’t be able to train until I recover. I would waste valuable time. So that’s why I’m afraid of accidents.”

Just like his nickname “Robot,” Yamakoshi continued without changing his expression.

“There are different types of accidents, and there are times when it feels like a split second and times when it feels like it’s in slow motion. This is just my own speculation, but I think that accidents that feel like a split second are those that don’t threaten life. Accidents that feel like they’re in slow motion are the ones that involve a danger to life. Even if it seems slow, you can’t avoid an accident with handling alone.”

When a person senses a crisis, the brain tries to maximize its function even at the cost of reducing other bodily functions, like vision, resulting in the perception of everything around them moving in slow motion. This phenomenon, known as tachypsychia, is being studied by experts, but it is rarely experienced by people in ordinary life. It is a unique experience in the world of motorsports where encountering such situations is inevitable.

Despite this, Yamakoshi’s fear of accidents is not because of the danger to life, but because of the “possibility of his dream being pushed further away.”

“I think the limit for debuting as an F1 driver is 2030, around the age of 25 to 26. With young drivers emerging one after another from around the world, only 20 drivers can be contracted by F1 teams. Considering that, being 17 is not that young. I don’t have time to take detours.”

How does his mother view the growth of such a stoic young man?

“I have always watched him start karting on his own, becoming passionate, and learning about joy and frustration. However, I never expected the time for him to be independent at just 15. Now, I support him with all my might and watch every race via YouTube’s live stream. Still, I close my eyes at the start because it’s still scary. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”

Despite his mother’s worries, Yamakoshi makes a strong start and aggressively tackles the corners. He won’t be applying the brakes on his path toward becoming an F1 driver.

At the Italian Imola Circuit, where the Tamburello Corner is visible, a statue of Ayrton Senna stands. Many fans still visit to pay their respects, leaving Brazilian flags and bouquets. Senna had a close, almost familial relationship with Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda, the engine manufacturer of the car he was driving at the time. The epicenter of motorsports is Europe, and there was a dream to make a name for South America’s Brazil and Asia’s Japan in Europe. Due to this background, Senna came to love Japan and was loved in return. One wonders what thoughts Senna might have as he watches over the Japanese youth continuing his lonely battle at the corner where he lost his own life.

After the interview, when asked about his summer vacation plans, Yamakoshi finally removed his “robot” mask and showed a genuinely youthful smile.

“I’m going to Shibuya with friends to eat hitsumabushi and okonomiyaki. After that, I’ll relax at a super sento. These are all things not available in Switzerland.”