Honda intends to maintain its support for Yuki Tsunoda even after parting ways with the Red Bull teams and the RB squad post-2025. Despite the forthcoming split, the company is keen on keeping a watchful eye on Tsunoda as they transition their supply arrangement to Aston Martin.
Tsunoda, currently under contract with the junior Red Bull outfit until the end of the season, had been speculated to secure a seat at Aston Martin for the upcoming season, particularly with the team’s impending switch to Honda power.
However, this possibility seems to have been closed off following Aston Martin’s re-signing of Fernando Alonso.
The young Japanese driver’s inclusion in the second RB seat this season was reportedly facilitated by Honda’s intervention, with Liam Lawson posing as a contender alongside the returning Daniel Ricciardo.
Tsunoda’s strong performances in the initial races of the season, where he has often outperformed Ricciardo, have been noteworthy.
Honda’s CEO, Koji Watanabe, expressed optimism about Tsunoda’s future, especially considering his origins in the Honda Formula Dream Project. Watanabe envisions a scenario where Tsunoda transitions from an active role at RB to a promotion within the Red Bull team itself.
“I think it’s a very nice story that Tsunoda first plays an active role at RB and then gets promoted to Red Bull,” Watanabe remarked, highlighting the company’s hopes for the talented driver’s progression.
“Even if it’s only after we leave, we’d like to keep an eye on him moving up to the top teams.
“Tsunoda graduated from the Honda Racing School and it is our dream that HRC students can become top riders. So it’s really important that Yuki becomes a top driver in Formula 1.”
Should Tsunoda continue in Formula 1 and stay within the Red Bull fold, his association with a rival engine manufacturer under Red Bull Powertrains might not pose a hurdle for Honda to continue sponsoring him.
“It’s not necessarily difficult,” stated Watanabe. “We have to decide and see what the situation is. But we can support Yuki to become a top driver.”
While the prospect of Tsunoda joining Aston Martin seems improbable, given the apparent reluctance of team owner Lawrence Stroll to replace his son Lance from the driver lineup alongside Alonso, Watanabe emphasized that the possibility of Tsunoda finding a place with the team cannot be entirely dismissed.
“We still don’t know what Aston Martin’s line-up will look like,” he said. Alonso has been confirmed, but I haven’t heard that Stroll has been confirmed.
“I don’t think the probability of that is zero, so I think there is a possibility of that at this stage.”
However, the likelihood of Honda securing a seat for Tsunoda remains uncertain, as there are currently no intentions to expand their engine supply beyond Aston Martin.
“There may be other possibilities in the future,” he remarked, hinting at potential developments down the line.
“But at the moment we have no other plans. At the moment, we are not yet at the stage where we are expanding our customer team.”
As Tsunoda remains a potential candidate for the Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, the Japanese driver expressed his optimism about being seriously considered for the position.
“Hopefully they will consider it,” Tsunoda remarked, reflecting his eagerness for the opportunity.
“I think at the same time, I’ll do as much as I can to show the performance even to the other teams. I just want to increase my value as a driver, that I can fight pretty strong.
“Obviously, I don’t know what’s going on with Red Bull, but hopefully, they will strongly consider it as well.”
