Yuki Tsunoda is understood to be on Aston Martin’s radar for 2025 and beyond. Red Bull has responded to this interest.
Yuki Tsunoda recently earned a contract extension with AlphaTauri, ending speculation about the Italian outfit’s 2023 combination. Although Liam Lawson emerged as a threat to the 23-year-old, his future in F1 – at least for now – is secure. However, it goes without saying that Red Bull’s current climate is unstable.
Next season will almost inevitably involve movement among its drivers, both at Red Bull and the second team. In theory, this presents some opportunity for Tsunoda – as Sergio Perez fails to match Verstappen’s efforts. Realistically, though, the Austrian team seems unwilling to promote him into the main team.
This is not to say Red Bull is a dead end for the Japanese driver, but it there is certainly a lot of risk for – potentially – limited gain. Alex Albon is proof that a change of environment, even if it requires going down the grid, can be highly beneficial.
The Honda Factor
Returning to Tsunoda’s situation, there is a clear option that could emerge for 2025 – Aston Martin. Even without his links to Honda, this partnership could be beneficial for both parties. The Japanese driver proved in 2022, alongside Gasly, that he is an F1-calibre driver – and continues to do so this year.
Despite recent misfortune in Italy and Singapore, he has accumulated a series of impressive drives in the AT04. Unfortunately for the youngster, in events such as Monaco and Spain, his form was not reflected in the final classification. Still, following the team’s recent updates, improved finishes should come.
Honda is already known to have supported Tsunoda’s career previously, helping him earn his first AlphaTauri. Whilst Tsunoda as a rookie in Formula 2 warranted a chance in F1 on merit, the Honda factor certainly helped. Moving forward, a similar dynamic could develop.
The situation at Aston Martin is tricky to gauge due to the team’s duo – Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The Spaniard is performing at an exceptional level this season, demonstrating that age is not a limiting factor in Formula 1.
Despite this, the current regression shown at Team Silverstone puts into question how long Alonso is willing to continue.
Writing off Fernando Alonso, history teaches, is unwise. Still, this does not simplify the task of predicting how much longer a 42-year-old will compete at the highest level.
Perhaps the bigger uncertainty, however, is regarding the Double World Champion’s teammate – Stroll.
Potential winds of change at Aston Martin
The 24-year-old can point to several highlights in his F1 career. Podium finishes and Pole Positions are present throughout the Canadian driver’s career. Despite this, Stroll’s performances are not especially flattering when put into context. More specifically, his results are less impressive when compared to the achievements of his teammates.
Looking at the 2023 season, this is more evident than ever before. Although Lawrence Stroll’s ownership provides tremendous security, there are still questions about how long the Canadian can continue in Formula 1. After all, at some stage, a variety of forces will compel the team to improve.
Several reports have indicated Aston Martin and Honda’s medium-term interest in Yuki Tsunoda. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko is not oblivious to this fact, explaining that signing the 23-year-old will come at a cost:
“Tsunoda is under contract with us. If Aston Martin are interested in him next year, they will have to reach an agreement with us first,” Marko told f1-insider.
This sets up a similar dilemma to the one Pierre Gasly faced in 2022. After some negotiations, the Frenchman was allowed to switch teams and join Alpine – ending an extremely long spell with AlphaTauri.
With the 2024 “silly season” set to be extremely intense, there can only be intrigue about how the F1 grid will evolve and shift.
