Tsunoda’s future uncertain as Honda and Red Bull face F1’s 2026 challenges

15:01, 15 Jan

byDrew Murphy

Honda insists Yuki Tsunoda is still one of its drivers, but his Red Bull–Ford reserve role in Formula 1 could be problematic.

Tsunoda has been a part of the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP) since his debut in single-seater racing in 2016.

The Japanese driver rose through the junior formulae, winning the 2018 Japanese F4 championship before spending two years in Europe for F3 and F2, before his F1 debut in 2021.

Through Honda’s Red Bull partnership, Tsunoda entered the Red Bull Junior Team in 2019 and later moved up to AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in F1.

Photo: RacePictures

Tsunoda spent four years with AlphaTauri before being promoted to Red Bull in April 2025, replacing the struggling Liam Lawson.

The Japanese driver also struggled and now finds himself on the sidelines in 2026 as a reserve driver.

However, a switch by Red Bull from Honda to an in-house power unit with Ford and Honda partnering with Aston Martin leaves Tsunoda in a strange position.

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe told Autosport that he regards Tsunoda and former Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa as “Honda drivers” and “Honda colleagues” as they are graduates of the HFDP.

Koji Watanabe and Laurent MekiesPhoto: RacePictures

Watanabe said: “Regarding this year's contract with Tsunoda, negotiations are ongoing, so no specific agreement has been finalised yet. This will be discussed in future talks.

“From Honda's perspective, there's no problem. The crucial point is how Ford, or rather Red Bull, views the situation.

“Depending on the terms Red Bull proposes, the scope within which Honda can utilise Tsunoda will change... I believe that scenario is possible.

“The negotiations are not with Tsunoda himself, but with Red Bull.”

Watanabe also said Honda’s driver academy would not be integrated with Aston Martin in the same way it was with the RBJT.

Aston Martin runs its own programme, featuring Mari Boya, moving up to F2 after finishing third in F3 last year, and new F1 Academy driver Mathilda Paatz, with reserve driver Jak Crawford having already graduated.

Photo: RacePictures

Honda, meanwhile, continues to back several young drivers, including 2024 French F4 champion Taito Kato, who finished seventh in FRECA last year and will step up to F3 next season.

“There are no such plans as yet” regarding an arrangement with Aston Martin, Watanabe added. “I expect we will continue to coordinate various programmes with Aston Martin, but at this point, there is nothing we have agreed upon that says, ‘Let’s do this right now’.

“Therefore, at this point, we will continue to nurture drivers up to F2 within the HFDP, Honda's own programme, and if any drivers emerge who are capable of driving in F1, we will recommend them to Aston Martin.”

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