Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda tipped for Formula 1 promotion
By Asher Fair
Red Bull Junior Team driver and current Formula 2 competitor Yuki Tsunoda is believed to be on his way to AlphaTauri for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Yuki Tsunoda, a member of the Honda Formula Dream Project and the Red Bull Junior Team, has been tipped to receive a promotion to Formula 1 for next year as the replacement for Daniil Kvyat at Scuderia AlphaTauri, the Red Bull sister team, alongside Pierre Gasly.
Max Verstappen is already under contract with Red Bull while Gasly recently signed a contract extension to remain with AlphaTauri, despite rumors that he may be paired for Verstappen for a second time next year after that didn’t work out throughout just over half of the 2019 season.
Tsunoda’s move to Formula 1 has not yet been confirmed, but that confirmation is expected to come within the next two weeks.
When discussing a timetable on the decision regarding who to make Verstappen’s teammate for 2021, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko noted that this seat is the team’s “fourth position” for next year, effectively meaning that three positions are done deals even though only two have been announced.
Here is what Marko had to say about the matter, according to F1 insider.
"“We want to be clear about the fourth position in Istanbul at the latest.”"
The race at Intercity Istanbul Park, the Turkish Grand Prix, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 15.
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Tsunoda won the 2018 Formula 4 Japanese Championship with seven wins in 14 races driving for the Honda Formula Dream Project after finishing in third place in the 2017 driver standings with three wins in 14 events for the team.
He went on to compete in the Formula 3 Championship in 2019 and finished in ninth place in the driver standings with one win in 16 races driving for Jenzer Motorsport. He also competed in the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship and finished in fourth in the standings with one win in 14 races driving for Motopark.
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Through the first 20 races of the 24-race 2020 Formula 2 season, his rookie season of competition for Carlin, he sits in third place in the driver standings with two victories and an additional three podium finishes.