Source – Motorsport.com
Tsunoda works for RB, but he hasn’t tested a Red Bull F1 car yet.
The growing intrigue surrounding Yuki Tsunoda’s future in Formula 1 has taken an unexpected twist, as Honda ramps up pressure on Red Bull to offer the Japanese driver a much-desired test run in its top-tier F1 machinery. While Tsunoda has impressed in flashes during his stint with AlphaTauri, the team hasn’t yet been convinced enough to promote him to the main Red Bull Racing squad. Despite the Japanese talent’s long-standing ties with Honda, Red Bull has yet to fully embrace the idea of elevating Tsunoda, as they seem to have their eyes on another rising star—Liam Lawson.
Tsunoda, who has been a part of the Red Bull-backed AlphaTauri (previously Toro Rosso) since 2021, has made his mark with moments of genuine brilliance, displaying his raw speed and talent. Yet, his time at the Faenza-based outfit has been defined by inconsistency, leaving Red Bull’s decision-makers unconvinced that he is the answer for a top seat. With Sergio Perez struggling to find form and his 2025 seat now in question, Red Bull appears to be leaning towards Liam Lawson as the heir apparent, leaving Tsunoda in a precarious position.
Interestingly, despite his years with AlphaTauri, Tsunoda has never had the chance to officially test a Red Bull Racing car. His involvement has been limited to demo runs, with no formal opportunities to get behind the wheel of the championship-winning car in a competitive test environment. With Honda’s partnership with Red Bull set to conclude at the end of 2025 before the Japanese manufacturer aligns itself with Aston Martin for 2026, the urgency to secure Tsunoda’s future has intensified.
Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), has been vocal about the manufacturer’s backing of Tsunoda and is pushing for Red Bull to give him a proper opportunity to showcase his talent. In an interview, Watanabe admitted that talks were ongoing with Red Bull’s key figures, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner, in hopes of securing Tsunoda a test run in a Red Bull car. “Regarding Tsunoda, our goal is for him to work hard and secure a seat at Red Bull Racing,” Watanabe shared. “We believe he has the talent. Of course, driver decisions are ultimately up to the team, but as a partner, we’ve strongly requested that Tsunoda be given the chance to drive and test in a Red Bull car. We want to at least give him the opportunity to showcase his ability.”
The Honda boss confirmed that conversations with Horner have been positive, with the Red Bull team principal not ruling out the possibility of a test. However, nothing has been decided yet. “I’ve also spoken directly with Christian about this. He hasn’t ruled it out. Nothing has been decided yet, but I think we need to proceed properly,” Watanabe stated.
For Honda, the ideal scenario would be to see Tsunoda step up to Red Bull Racing for the long haul, even after their collaboration with Red Bull comes to an end. Honda is eager to see Tsunoda remain in Formula 1 with the Milton Keynes-based squad, even if it means continuing beyond 2025 without Honda power. “If all goes well and Tsunoda’s abilities are recognized, I believe he could remain with Red Bull beyond 2026 and compete for championships,” Watanabe expressed optimistically.
The push from Honda seems to stem from their deep investment in Tsunoda’s career, which has been nurtured by the Japanese manufacturer for years. Watanabe added, “It would be ideal for Tsunoda to become more of a Red Bull driver. It’s not as if he’s parting ways with Honda forever. His current focus should be on securing a Red Bull seat, and if that’s his goal, he should pursue it.”
Watanabe also highlighted Honda’s hopes for another rising talent, Ayumu Iwasa, who currently races in Japan’s Super Formula series. Honda aims for Iwasa to follow a similar path to Liam Lawson, by potentially serving as a reserve driver for Red Bull next year. “For Iwasa, I think his basic position next year will be as a reserve driver for RB. From there, the goal is to secure a full-time race seat,” said Watanabe. However, Iwasa could also stay in Japan and continue in Super Formula, with discussions ongoing about his future career path.
Interestingly, Watanabe was quick to clarify that Honda’s switch to Aston Martin in 2026 does not currently include a plan for driver development with the Silverstone-based team. “We currently don’t have any plans to collaborate with Aston Martin,” he noted, but left the door open for future developments. “It’s not that we won’t in the future. But, at this point, there’s no agreed-upon program.”
As the 2024 season inches closer to its conclusion, the push from Honda to secure Tsunoda’s future and elevate his career in Formula 1 will likely intensify. Red Bull has a crucial decision on its hands. Will they offer Tsunoda the test run that Honda so eagerly wants, or will they continue to hedge their bets on Lawson as their next breakout star? One thing is certain—Tsunoda’s journey is far from over, and the next few months could define his future in the sport.
