Yuki Tsunoda dismisses Aston Martin rumors, claims he is focused at AlphaTauri

Rumors had surfaced that Yuki Tsunoda could move to Aston Martin with Honda in 2026.

Yuki Tsunoda dismisses Aston Martin rumors, claims he is focused at AlphaTauri

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda (Via IMAGO)

Yuki Tsunoda has spent three seasons at AlphaTauri. The Japanese driver made his debut in 2021 and has managed to deliver consistent results. However, Tsunoda’s ties with Honda have raised speculation about a potential switch to Aston Martin 2026. As the Japanese carmaker would leave Red Bull to supply power units to the Silverstone-based team. Now, the 23-year-old has made it clear that he remains focused on the Red Bull sister team.

The Japanese driver hoped that Milton Keynes was considering him as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez. The 23-year-old mentioned that he wanted Red Bull to know that he is not focused on Honda’s switch to Aston Martin. Moreover, Yuki Tsunoda made it clear that he has been part of the Honda family for 18 years and was looking to make progress with Red Bull.

I hope so, to be honest because I don't want Red Bull to misunderstand that I am just focusing on Aston Martin or anything. I'm with AlphaTauri and have been with Honda since I was 18 years old, I just need to focus on performing for Red Bull, not for Aston Martin or something like that.
Yuki Tsunoda said as reported by RacingNews365

Tsunoda emphasized that the Austrian team shouldn’t misunderstand the rumors about Aston Martin. Although the Japanese driver pointed out that on social media rumors have surfaced that Red Bull believes that he would move to the Silverstone-based team in the future. The 23-year-old acknowledged that he would only get the call-up to Milton Keynes if he delivered impressive results.

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Hopefully, they don't misunderstand these things and hopefully they really consider me for the future... I saw on social media that Red Bull thinks I am already going to Aston Martin, and that is why they don't put me in the Red Bull.

Honda wants Yuki Tsunoda to succeed in F1

Tsunoda is a Honda prodigy and has shared great relationships with the carmaker. The 23-year-old claimed that the auto giant wanted to see a Japanese driver succeed at the pinnacle of motorsport. However, Yuki Tsunoda reckoned that Honda didn’t mind which team he was racing at as long as he was performing well in the sport.

For Honda, what they are saying as long as one day a Japanese driver can be successful, they don't care where I go.
Yuki Tsunoda with former Honda F1 boss Matashi Yamamoto (image via PlanetF1)
Yuki Tsunoda with former Honda F1 boss Matashi Yamamoto (image via PlanetF1)

The Japanese driver mentioned that the two parties would be lucky to be on the same team in the coming years. However, Honda would not force the 23-year-old to jump ship. As such, the carmaker wouldn’t care if Tsunoda was driving for a rival team as long as he was successful as a driver in Formula 1.

They don't care which tea you are with, they don't really focus on Aston Martin, just Yuki Tsunoda the driver to make me a successful driver.

Certainly, Yuki Tsunoda aims to race for Red Bull in the future. With Perez’s contract coming to an end in 2024, the Japanese driver would be looking to impress Milton Keynes next season. However, Tsunoda would face stiff competition for the second Red Bull seat. As such, it remains to be seen if the 23-year-old gets to race for the Austrian team in the future.

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