Yuki Tsunoda joins in on the fun with Moto GP rider Takaaki Nakagami at the Honda Racing Thanks Day 2022
Yuki Tsunoda raced on track with Moto GP rider, Takaaki Nakagami as co-passenger
Yuki Tsunoda is currently the sole Japanese driver in Formula 1. The 22-year-old secured his seat at Alpha Tauri, the Red Bull sister team with the support of Honda, the automobile giant which even helped Tsunoda in his junior career. Thus there is a strong bond between the driver and the carmaker spanning several years. As such when Honda celebrated its Honda Racing Thanks Day for 2022, Yuki was one of the main names at the event.
The Japanese driver enjoyed an amazing time at the celebrations held on Sunday, November 27. Tsunoda was at the forefront of activities and was even seen competing alongside the Red Bull RB16B in the 2021 Honda tribute white and red livery. Shots from the day were posted on Instagram, with Moto GP rider Takaaki Nakagami, who races for LCR Honda accompanying the F1 driver in the latest gen Civic Type R. The grin on the 22-year-old is visible as he races the car in a show for the fans.
Yuki Tsunoda certainly put on an impressive show not only for the fans but also for his passenger Nakagami who was impressed by the drive of the Alpha Tauri driver. Yuki’s own Alpha Tauri 2021 F1 car was also on display, but the fans were left disappointed as the Japanese driver did not dive in to the 2021 car’s cockpit. This show run comes after the end of a long season for Tsunoda, who was forced to race in the back of the grid this year due to an uncompetitive car.
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri, and much more at the stellar Honda event
The Honda Racing Thanks Day is an annual event held by the carmaker to thank the fans for their continued support to the Japanese manufacturer’s endeavors in multiple categories of racing, ranging from two-wheelers to four. The 2022 iteration of the event was held at Mobility Resort Motegi, a return to the venue after a gap of 3 years. The celebrations lasted for well over 8 hours, with the automotive giant bringing in some of its finest motorsport machinery and personnel to entertain the fans.
The showcase consisted of the 2021 championship-winning RB16B of Max Verstappen, Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri AT02 from the previous year, some of its bikes from Moto GP, and of course, the fan favorites, the drivers. The event brought in several Honda-affiliated drivers, including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, the soon-to-be Alpine driver Pierre Gasly, Moto GP star Marc Marquez, retired motorcycle trials rider, Takahisa Fujinami, and many more.
Honda exited F1 as an engine supplier at the end of the 2021 season but continued to provide support to Red Bull under the HRC banner. As it stands the carmaker assembles and runs the engines for Red Bull Powertrains. However as the talks between the Austrian team and Porsche for a potential engine collaboration for the 2026 F1 engine regulations failed, there have been rumors of a potential rekindling between Honda and Red Bull. Experts have stated that it will not be surprising to see Honda’s return to the sport as an engine supplier in 2026, with the auto giant already signing a deal to increase its visibility on the Red Bull car and overalls for 2023.
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