16:30 Formula 2 racer Yuki Tsunoda will make his Formula 1 debut at AlphaTauri in the near future. That’s what team boss Franz Tost says about the Red Bull and Honda protégé, who is currently seen as one of the most talented drivers from Japan.
Tsunoda finished third in the FIA Formula 3 Championship last year, with a win at Monza. For this season he was promoted to Formula 2 with Carlin. In the main races he finished second, third and fourth this year, and during the second Silverstone weekend he won the sprint race. The Japanese is therefore in fourth place in the championship. Motorcycle supplier Honda would of course like to have a Japanese driver in Formula 1 again, but so far that has not happened yet. Last season, two-time Super Formula champion Naoki Yamamoto came into action for Toro Rosso during free practice, but will no longer make the switch to F1 at the age of 32.
It is therefore only natural that the 20-year-old Tsunoda is the main candidate for Honda and Red Bull. AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost also thinks this way: “Firstly, Red Bull and Honda support Tsunoda because he is a fantastic driver,” said the Austrian. “He’s very talented and very fast. He showed that in Formula 3 last year, but also in F2 this year. I remember that he took the lead in Austria when it was wet, but he had radio problems then. and came in too late for new tires. Then he finished second, but then at Silverstone he did win. He’s getting stronger, even as he gets more experience. I expect him sooner or later in an AlphaTauri car. “
This would likely be at the expense of Daniil Kvyat, although Tsunoda also has to deal with fellow Red Bull juniors Jehan Daruvala and Juri Vips.
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