While Yuki Tsunoda was able to test the Red Bull during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, Honda now hopes that the Japanese will replace Sergio Pérez within the Austrian team in 2025.
After the pressure put by Honda, Yuki Tsunoda had the chance to drive the Red Bull during the Abu Dhabi tests.
“We were able to respond to his request to participate in the test”said Koji Watanabe, president of HRC (Honda Racing Corporation). “I heard he was very pleased.”
“I have had various discussions with Christian Horner about the drivers for next season and beyond,” continues Watanabe. “As I always say, the team has the right to decide the driver, so our opinion is just for reference.”
“But from HRC side, we believe that Tsunoda has the ability to be promoted at Red Bull and he should be one of the candidates. All we could do was give him the opportunity to show his abilities to the world, so I asked for him to take part in this test, and we made it happen. occur. I didn't see him [Tsunoda] that before the test, and he told me that he wanted a good result and that he wanted to have fun.”
Read also: Jos Verstappen: “Red Bull is coming together a little better now”
“Since then, all I have is a report from HRC on site, where they very clearly analyzed the differences between the car [VCARB] and the Red Bull car, and gave the team some very useful advice and feedback based on that. After that, I don't know what will happen, so we'll have to wait and see, but if everything goes well, it will be great. In any case, he must already be driving for [VCARB] next season, so I expect him to perform well next season, regardless of the team he drives for.”
Honda: “All we have left to do is pray”
Takuma Sato, ex-F1 driver and now executive advisor for HRC, indicates that he “does notAll that remains is to pray” to hope to see Tsunoda in Red Bull in 2025.
“It’s up to the team to decide, of course”Sato said. “But Yuki said his driving style suited the Red Bull, with his incisive front end, so I think he had a very good test. All we have to do now is pray.”
Read also: Tsunoda on the Red Bull: “I feel like the car suits my driving style”
