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Red Bull or Honda: Where does Tsunoda's loyalty lie?
- Ludo van Denderen
Last weekend Yuki Tsunoda was officially told that he has been awarded a fourth year at AlphaTauri. The Japanese driver will also be Daniel Ricciardo's teammate in 2024. What happens after that is still unclear. Ricciardo is said to be in the picture to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing in 2025. In the constant flow of rumours, Tsunoda's name barely drops as an option for Red Bull. Is there perhaps doubt about his loyalty in the longer term?
Tsunoda is a protégé of Honda, and owes his seat at AlphaTauri partly to the Japanese engine supplier's multi-million-dollar annual contribution to Red Bull. From the 2026 season, Honda will be Aston Martin 's partner and therefore no longer part of the Red Bull family. There are whispers in the paddock that Tsunoda will switch to Aston Martin in Honda's wake, no later than 2026. Or perhaps even earlier, perhaps in 2025.
Uncertainty surrounding Aston Martin drivers
At Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso's commitment expires after the 2024 season. How long the contract with second driver Lance Stroll remains is unknown. Presumably, the team's owner, father Lawrence, may decide at some point that enough is enough for his son. In any case, it is not unrealistic that at least one of the cockpits will become vacant within a few seasons.
In Japan, Tsunoda was asked where his loyalty lay: with Red Bull or still with Honda? "Both! Both definitely. I mean, Honda has supported me from 16 years old. Actually started from this track. So without them, obviously I'm not here – but same time, without Red Bull, I'm not here as well. So, it's hard to say but they are different. I think they combine very well as a junior category, when I was a junior. They helped me in both ways and it's balanced actually really well. So definitely both," Tsunoda said.
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