Honda claims Yuki Tsunoda remains one of its drivers, but his job as a Red Bull-Ford reserve in Formula 1 might be a hindrance.
A product of the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP) since his single-seater debut in 2016, Tsunoda rapidly rose through the junior formulae. He won the 2018 Japanese F4 championship and spent just two years in Europe prior to his Formula 1 debut in 2021 – one in F3, taking ninth with the unfancied Jenzer squad, and one in F2, where the Carlin driver finished third in the standings.
Honda’s partnership with Red Bull meant Tsunoda joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2019 and graduated to AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in F1.
The youngster spent four years with the Faenza-based outfit before a somewhat untimely promotion to Red Bull in April 2025, where he replaced a severely underperforming Liam Lawson but struggled too – to the extent that the 25-year-old is finding himself on the sidelines for 2026, as a reserve driver.
Meanwhile, as F1 implements new engine regulations for 2026, Red Bull has moved on to its own in-house powertrain project with Ford, while Honda is now supplying its power units to Aston Martin only.
The Japanese manufacturer “naturally” regards Tsunoda and fellow former Red Bull/Honda junior Ayumu Iwasa as “Honda drivers” and “Honda colleagues” in light of their status as graduates from the HFDP, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe told Autosport at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
However, Tsunoda’s role as Red Bull-Ford’s reserve driver might complicate the situation.
“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,” Watanabe added.
“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 clarified that Honda’s driver academy wouldn’t be intertwined with Aston Martin’s the way it was with the RBJT.
Aston Martin has its own programme featuring Mari Boya, who’s graduating to F2 after finishing third in F3 last year, and Mathilda Paatz, the team’s new F1 Academy racer. Reserve driver Jak Crawford has graduated from the academy.
Meanwhile, Honda has several youngsters on its books, including 2024 French F4 champion Taito Kato, who finished seventh in the Formula Regional European Championship last year and will race in F3 next year.
“There are no such plans as yet” regarding a Red Bull-like arrangement with Aston Martin, Watanabe said. “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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