Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri on the grid. 08.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day.
Yuki Tsunoda has opened up on rumours linking him with a switch to Aston Martin once it partners with Honda, contending he hopes to still be in the frame for a Red Bull seat.
Tsunoda currently drives for Red Bull’s second-string side, presently known as AlphaTauri, and has recently been assured of his place for a fourth term next season.
Amid Sergio Perez’s continued struggles at Red Bull, the opportunity could be there for either Tsunoda or team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to secure a promotion for 2025.
But Tsunoda, whose racing career has been supported extensively by Honda, has been linked with a move to Aston Martin as it prepares to liaise with the Japanese manufacturer from 2026 onwards.
However, the 23-year-old insists that he doesn’t want Red Bull to be “misunderstood” about his intentions and hopes to be a candidate to accompany Max Verstappen.
When asked on Thursday in Qatar if he felt he was an option for a Red Bull seat, Tsunoda stated: “I hope so, to be honest.
“Obviously, the main thing is I don’t want Red Bull to misunderstand something, like for example that I’m just focusing now on Aston Martin or anything [like that].
“I’m at AlphaTauri, and I’ve been with Red Bull since I was 18 years old. So, I am now focusing to perform for Red Bull, not for Aston Martin.
“Hopefully they don’t have misunderstood those things and hopefully they really consider my future seriously.
“If I perform well as a driver, hopefully they consider me more and obviously, if I didn’t, I understand. But if I’m able to show my performance, I would like to have a bit more kind of rotation.”
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri AT04 and Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR23 battle for position. 24.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race Day.
Honda’s partnership with Red Bull will come to an end after 2025, with the latter opting to work with American automotive giant Ford on the new engine regulations for 2026.
Meanwhile, Honda will maintain its presence in the sport beyond the current rules cycle having agreed to power Aston Martin, who currently use Mercedes units.
Tsunoda wants to avoid his Honda links denying him a Red Bull drive, asserting that the engine manufacturer only wants a Japanese driver thriving in F1.
Pressed on whether Honda’s impending tie-up with Aston Martin could impact his chances with Red Bull, Tsunoda replied: “If that’s the case, I’m not happy with it.
“I don’t know how the conversations are going with Honda [and Red Bull], because Honda is still supplying the engine.
“But I think from the Honda side, what they’re saying is that as long as I can succeed, as long as a Japanese driver can one day achieve success, they don’t care where I go.
“They want a Japanese driver to be successful. Obviously, it would be lucky if we worked together and achieved success, but in the end they don’t care about it. And that’s what I really like about Honda.
“They don’t care which team you are at. So, I don’t think they’re really focusing on Aston Martin or whatever. They are just focusing as a driver, on Yuki Tsunoda, and the support to make me a successful driver.”
Keyword: Tsunoda opens up on Aston Martin-Honda F1 switch rumours