Red Bull junior Tsunoda applies for F1 seat with second victory

Yuki Tsunoda is clearly knocking at the door at AlphaTauri this season in Formula 2. At the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack, the driver took his second victory of the season.

On Saturday the Formula 2 Feature Race was held at the Spa Francorchamps circuit. In an exciting battle between the Russian Nikita Mazepin of team Hitech Grand Prix and Yuki Tsunoda of team Carlin, the Japanese driver benefitted from a penalty for Mazepin to take the win.

Because of his win, Tsunoda is steaming up into the Formula 2 standings this season. With 111 points he is currently third, behind Callum Ilott with 122 points and Robert Shwartzman with 115 points. In the sprint race to be held later today, he may therefore be able to increase one or two places in the general classification, although this will be a difficult task with the reversed grid.

Bad news for Kvyat

With the second win of the season to his name after seven rounds, Tsunoda is also clearly applying for a seat at AlphaTauri. The 20-year-old driver is part of the Red Bull Drivers Academy and it is no secret that Honda would love to have a Japanese driver in Formula 1. Chances are that if Tsunoda continues this way, Daniil Kvyat will have to look for another employer. The expectation is that the Russian will have to leave the team if Tsunoda is promoted.