Honda Racing Corporation CEO, Koji Watanabe, has made it clear that the fate of Yuki Tsunoda in Formula 1 is solely in the hands of the young Japanese driver. Despite Honda’s new venture with Aston Martin in the F1 world championship, Watanabe emphasized that Honda will not meddle in Tsunoda’s future at Red Bull Racing.
Tsunoda recently made the leap to Red Bull’s main team after a swap with Liam Lawson, who struggled to impress in the first two races of the season. This move raised eyebrows about Tsunoda’s position within the team, but Watanabe stressed that the decision was based on performance, and Tsunoda must continue to prove himself to secure a long-term spot alongside Max Verstappen.
As Honda’s partnership with Red Bull is set to conclude this year, Watanabe stated, “He earned his promotion to Red Bull based on his performance, so he must continue proving himself to remain there in the coming years. The most important thing is his own will – since he wants to continue with Red Bull, we have no reason to interfere.”
Moreover, Watanabe denied any involvement in the driver swap decision between Tsunoda and Lawson. He emphasized the importance of Red Bull making decisions independently and choosing the best drivers for their team.
Tsunoda, a product of Honda’s young driver program, is gearing up for his first race with Red Bull at Suzuka, which coincides with Honda’s home Grand Prix. Despite the added pressure, Tsunoda sees this as a unique opportunity to showcase his skills and make the most of the situation.
With Honda stepping into a new chapter with Aston Martin in 2026, all eyes are on Tsunoda to see if he can solidify his position at Red Bull Racing and prove his worth in the upcoming races.
