Red Bull hints at long-awaited Tsunoda F1 test

JUST IN : Red Bull hints at long-awaited Tsunoda F1 test

Red Bull has hinted that Yuki Tsunoda could finally get the opportunity to test for their main Formula 1 team after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Japanese manufacturer Honda, a key partner of Red Bull, has been pushing hard for Tsunoda to have this chance. The news emerged during the Austin race weekend, as Honda’s efforts to secure the test were revealed.

So far, Tsunoda has only competed for Red Bull’s junior team, AlphaTauri, and his drives in Red Bull machinery have been limited to demonstration events. However, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has suggested that plans could be in place for Tsunoda to get his first full test with the senior Red Bull squad at the end of the 2024 season.

When asked by Autosport if Red Bull would agree to Honda’s request for the test, Marko replied that there were “some plans for Abu Dhabi” but also noted that Red Bull has a number of drivers to consider for such opportunities. He mentioned Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, two young talents from Red Bull’s driver development program, as other contenders.

While the exact details of Marko’s comments remain unclear, it is widely speculated that Tsunoda could be in line to drive the Red Bull RB20 during the post-season tyre test. This test is scheduled for the Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season’s final race, and requires teams to run two cars. This could present the perfect scenario for Tsunoda to show his skills in Red Bull’s top-level car, potentially boosting his future prospects within the team or in F1 overall.

Tsunoda has been part of the Red Bull and Honda setup since his debut in F1, and while he has shown promise, he has yet to make the leap to the senior Red Bull team. Honda’s continued support for the young Japanese driver suggests they see great potential in him and are eager to give him further opportunities within Red Bull Racing.

The post-season tyre test is a valuable chance for young or less experienced drivers to gain seat time in current F1 machinery. If Tsunoda is granted the opportunity, it could be a significant moment in his career, giving him a taste of driving for one of the sport’s leading teams. Meanwhile, Red Bull will also evaluate other rising stars from their junior ranks, including Hadjar and Lawson, who have impressed in various lower categories.

This test could shape Red Bull’s future driver lineup and could see Tsunoda’s long-awaited shot in a top-tier F1 car, something fans and his supporters in Japan, especially Honda, have been eagerly waiting for.