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Honda advises Red Bull about Tsunoda: 'Capable to be promoted'
On paper, Sergio Perez has a contract for next season to compete alongside Max Verstappen. However, there is a fierce ongoing battle in the background for Red Bull Racing's second seat should a replacement be needed. In this case Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are the sole contenders to take over the potentially vacant seat. Honda, which supplies the power units to both Red Bull teams, has pleaded their case with team principal Christian Horner to consider Tsunoda if a place becomes available.
In Abu Dhabi, Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, spoke several times with Horner about the future line-up. "The team has every right to decide on the driver, so our opinion is only a recommendation," he reflected to Autosport Web. "However, HRC believes that Tsunoda has sufficient capabilities to be promoted to Red Bull, and that he should be one of the candidates."
Sato will pray for Tsunoda
Takuma Sato, himself a former F1 driver and now an adviser to Honda, is also hoping for Tsunoda's place at Red Bull Racing. He stated, "I think he has become a very good driver. His current speed is great and he manages everything well, including his race management and race skills. He has grown tremendously over the years and by gaining experience, including in terms of self-control."
A possible Red Bull future for Tsunoda, who tested for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi, is in the hands of the Austrian team's chief, Horner, and it's chief advisor, Helmut Marko. "Yuki told me that the Red Bull machine suited his driving style well, with that front end of the car. I think it was a good test. All we can do now is pray," Sato concludes.
This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen.
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