Honda Racing Company president Koji Watanabe says Yuki Tsunoda’s System 1 future at Purple Bull lies in his personal fingers, with the Japanese model enterprise a brand new undertaking with the Aston Martin outfit on the earth championship.
Tsunoda has acquired an extended elusive promotion to Purple Bull’s most important workforce for the Japanese Grand Prix; the Milton Keynes-based squad made the drastic name of an early driver swap with Racing Bulls after semi-rookie Liam Lawson obviously underperformed within the RB21 over the opening two grands prix of the season.
Tsunoda’s future with the Austrian model had appeared unsure after he once more didn’t earn a call-up to the Purple Bull outfit for 2025, however he now has an opportunity to show that he may be nearer to team-mate Max Verstappen than the Dutchman’s predecessors.
The 24-year-old is a product of Honda’s younger driver programme, however the Japanese producer is beginning a brand new partnership with Aston Martin for F1’s new technical period beginning in 2026. Nevertheless, Watanabe is adamant that Honda gained’t affect Tsunoda’s future at Purple Bull in any manner.
“Our partnership with Purple Bull will conclude this 12 months, so we have now no leverage to strain Purple Bull relating to 2026,” Watanabe stated. “He earned his promotion to Purple Bull primarily based on his efficiency, so he should proceed proving himself to stay there within the coming years. Crucial factor is his personal will – since he needs to proceed with Purple Bull, we have now no purpose to intervene.”
Koji Watanabe, Honda Racing CEO
Photograph by: Motorsport.com Japan
Watanabe additionally clarified that Honda had performed no half in swaying Purple Bull for the motive force swap with Lawson to happen.
“We do not know when or how Purple Bull will make [a given] resolution, so we at all times talk that they need to select the perfect driver,” he insisted. “I’ve superb communication with Christian Horner, and we continuously talk about not simply driver personnel issues but in addition trackside help buildings. This time, we didn’t take any particular actions.”
Tsunoda’s first race weekend with Purple Bull occurs to be his and Honda’s house grand prix at Suzuka, which he describes as excellent regardless of potential added strain.
“That is the final word state of affairs,” Tsunoda remarked. “Given the seat swap, there’s naturally strain from Purple Bull, and Honda additionally has robust expectations for his or her house grand prix.
“It is a uncommon and distinctive second the place a number of challenges and pressures are coming collectively, and I believe it’s the perfect type of state of affairs. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to expertise one thing like this once more, so I simply need to get pleasure from it.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Ben Vinel
System 1
Yuki Tsunoda
Purple Bull Racing
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e-mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
