Honda continues to train juniors for Red Bull: 'I want kids to keep dreaming'

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12:08, 20 Mar 2021

For the first time since 2014 and Kamui Kobayashi, a Japanese driver will compete in Formula 1. Yuki Tsunoda is making his debut at Alpha Tauri this season and expectations are high.

Good winter test

Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri had an encouraging winter test. Max Verstappen set the fastest time, followed by Yuki Tsunoda in second place. An excellent starting position for Honda .

This is also the opinion of Masashi Yamamoto, Honda's managing director who hopes Tsunoda will achieve good results at Alpha Tauri, although he remains modest on the Japanese website as-web.jp.

"There is still some work to do at AlphaTauri, but I hope we can finish that this week and then race next week."

Expectations Tsunoda

Tsunoda comes from Honda's junior training program, so Yamamoto has high expectations for their pupil.

"The season is successful if he can score points. If he has the chance, I want him to aim for the podium. He's still a rookie this year, but I think he's going to be a good match for [Pierre] Gasly."

Honda junior program

Honda are leaving Formula 1 at the end of this season, but that doesn't mean Honda's junior program is going to stop either.

"If we have a good driver, we will talk to Red Bull and we will continue to do so. That cooperation will stay. I want kids to be able to keep dreaming."

In fact, Tsunoda's successor is already lined up. "Ayumu Iwasa is driving Formula 3 this season and is a very good driver."

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Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	72
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	63
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	49
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	41
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	25
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	21
7	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	17
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	15
9	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	12
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	10
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	4
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	4
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	2
15	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
16	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	1
17	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
18	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Pos.

Driver

Team

Points

MER

MER

FER

FER