Formula 1: Naoki Yamamoto not in contention for 2020 Toro Rosso seat
By Asher Fair
Despite his impressive Formula 1 practice debut for the Japanese Grand Prix, Naoki Yamamoto is likely out of the running for a seat at Toro Rosso in 2020.
Japanese two-time and reigning Super Formula champion Naoki Yamamoto made his debut in a Formula 1 car in the opening practice session for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, and he did so driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso behind the wheel of Pierre Gasly’s car.
Yamamoto had been tipped to land this practice run around the 18-turn, 3.609-mile (5.808-kilometer) Suzuka Circuit road course in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan, a track he probably knows better than any Formula 1 driver, for several months.
There had even been rumors that the 31-year-old would move to Formula 1 on a full-time basis next season driving for the Faenza-based team.
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Japanese manufacturer Honda, Toro Rosso’s second-year engine supplier, have reportedly been eager to place the first Japanese driver in Formula 1 since Kamui Kobayashi drove for Caterham in the 2014 season, and they were eager to place a Japanese driver with a Honda-powered team for the first time since Takuma Sato drove for Super Aguri in the 2008 season.
But as reported by Beyond the Flag earlier this week, Yamamoto appears to be out of the running for a seat with Toro Rosso, effectively the Red Bull Racing junior team, next year.
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner confirmed this sentiment when discussing Yamamoto’s performance in his practice session for Toro Rosso, according to Formula 1.
"“He’s done a very good job for his first session here in a Formula 1 car. I think he acquitted himself extremely well. He’s had a very successful career racing over here and with Jenson in the GTs. He doesn’t fit the criteria at the moment, but he’s certainly worth giving a run and having a look at today. I don’t know the exact ins and outs of [Toro Rosso’s] run plans, but you’d have to say it’s pretty usual that they run a standard setting across the two cars – so he’s done a pretty decent job there.”"
Yamamoto’s practice run at Suzuka Circuit drew widespread praise. He placed 17th and recorded a top lap time of 92.018 seconds (141.194 miles per hour), which was only 0.098 seconds (0.151 miles per hour) slower than that of full-time Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat in 16th.
Red Bull Racing team manager Helmut Marko confirmed that Kvyat is set to return to Toro Rosso in the 2020 season, and an official confirmation from the team is expected to come in the near future.
Gasly is expected to be confirmed in the team’s second seat since Alexander Albon, who swapped seats with Gasly earlier this season, has done a nice job in his first four races at Red Bull Racing after Gasly struggled through the 21-race season’s first 12 races and ended up being demoted back to Toro Rosso.
That said, Marko and Horner have made other claims this season, the most notable of which being that Gasly would not be demoted or removed from Red Bull Racing this season, that have ended up not being true, so the Yamamoto situation could certainly still be an interesting one to keep an eye on moving forward.
Will Naoki Yamamoto ever get the opportunity to compete in Formula 1, and if so, when will he land that opportunity? If he does land a ride in the series, will he do so driving a Honda-powered car for Toro Rosso?