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Honda pushing Red Bull to give Tsunoda F1 test run

Tsunoda has yet to test a Red Bull F1 car despite his position at RB

Jonathan Noble Ken Tanaka
Edited:
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

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Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

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Gunter Steiner

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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Mika Hakkinen

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Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

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Otmar Szafnauer

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Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

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Danica Patrick

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Jock Clear, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Reserve Driver, Ferrari and Haas F1 Team, James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing

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Alex Albon, Williams Racing

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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

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Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, with Romain Grosjean

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Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
A Ferrari fan in the paddock

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

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Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

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Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

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Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

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Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

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Red Bull RB20 rear suspension detail

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Haas VF-24 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

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Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Franco Colapinto, Williams, Gaetan Jego, Williams Racing Race Engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

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Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
The flag of the United States of America

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

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Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

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Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team, in the Team Principals Press Conference

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Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, in the Team Principals Press Conference

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Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team on stage

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Former NASCAR star Jeff Gordon poses with an Aston Martin Pirelli Hot Laps car

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

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Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Raoul Spanger, Manager of Nico Hulkenberg

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Leo Neugebauer in the Haas F1 Team garage

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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

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Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, with Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

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Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

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Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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Jeff Gordon

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Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

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2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

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Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

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Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

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Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

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Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, celebrates in Parc Ferme

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, receives his Sprint Qualifyiing Award from Leo Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

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98

Honda is pushing Red Bull to give Yuki Tsunoda a test run in its Formula 1 car to show what he can do.

The Japanese manufacturer has long backed Tsunoda's career, and its partnership with Red Bull has been instrumental in him having a seat at juniorAlphaTauri/RB squad since 2021.

But despite showing some decent flashes of speed during his spell at the Faenza-based outfit, Red Bull has never been convinced that Tsunoda has shown everything that it feels is needed to justify promotion.

Even amidst the struggles that Red Bull incumbent Sergio Perez is facing, which puts his 2025 drive in doubt, the team seems to be leaning more towards its view that Liam Lawson could be best placed to be a potential replacement.

Beyond that, Tsunoda has never even tested one of Red Bull's F1 cars, having only got behind the wheel of the squad's cars during demo runs.

Honda's relationship with Red Bull ends next year, ahead of its switch to Aston Martin, but the manufacturer hopes that Tsunoda could still remain on board beyond that.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Koji Watanabe, the president of Honda's racing arm HRC, revealed his hopes for the future – and how he was in dialogue with Red Bull chiefs Helmut Marko and Christian Horner about a plan for Tsunoda.

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

"Regarding Tsunoda, our goal is for him to work hard and secure a seat at Red Bull Racing," said Watanabe.

"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.

"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 said the ideal solution for him would be Tsunoda stepping up to Red Bull for the long-term, even if he was not racing with Honda engines anymore with their partnership due to end concluding the 2025 season.

"If all goes well and Tsunoda's abilities are recognised, I believe he could remain with Red Bull beyond 2026 and compete for championships," he 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 has also revealed his hopes that Honda junior Ayumu Iwasa, who is competing in Super Formula, can become a reserve at RB next year – but has not ruled out him staying in Japan.

"For Iwasa, I think his basic position next year will be as a reserve driver for RB," he said. "From there, the goal is to secure a full-time race seat.

"I've been discussing various possibilities for Iwasa with Marko. This includes what steps Iwasa should take next season to further his career.

"One option is for him to attend all F1 races as a reserve driver, similar to Liam Lawson.

"Another option is for him to continue racing in Super Formula next year. Personally, I think it would be beneficial for him to keep driving."

Read Also:

While Honda is switching to Aston Martin for 2026, Watanabe said that there was no plan at the moment to team up with the squad on a driver development programme.

"We currently don't have any plans to collaborate with Aston Martin," he added.

"It's not that we won't in the future. But, at this point, there's no agreed-upon programme. At least for next year, we won't be partnering with Aston on driver development."

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