12 August 2023 , 07:00
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Helmut Marko hinted that Yuki Tsunoda is set to continue his AlphaTauri career beyond the end of this season.
The Japanese racer is one of seven current Formula 1 stars who is out of contract in a few months' time. The 23-year-old is in his third season with the team, having graduated from the Red Bull driver academy.
He was perhaps slightly fortunate to earn the contract extension which secured his place this season. But the general consensus in the paddock is that he has made the most of the chance given to him.
Tsunoda started the season with impressive consistency, taking only two points from the first five races of the year but finishing 11th in the other three. A Monaco mistake sparked a run of disappointing results, but last time out in Belgium he was back on form and back in the top 10.
Red Bull chief Marko, who has significant influence on who drives for sister team AlphaTauri, wants to see more of that from the Japanese. But he also gave the impression that he has already seen enough to green-light a new deal.
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"Of course that depends on the further results," he said when asked about the situation by Austrian outlet Kleine Zeitung. "But there are already discussions with our partner Honda. You can assume that it will happen if you take this year's performances."
That relationship Tsunoda has with Honda will be key to his longer-term future in F1. For now, both he and the Japanese carmaker are aligned with Red Bull – but Honda's relationship with the team will end after the 2025 season, after which it will then link up with Aston Martin as an engine supplier.
The 2026 season is some way away and it is far too early to predict which drivers will be in what seat by then. But Honda's racing president Koji Watanabe has already admitted that he has his eye on potentially bringing Tsunoda over to the Silverstone-based team.
"He is originally from our school and in Formula 1 he is doing very well. We're very happy to see him succeeding," he said of the AlphaTauri racer. "But talking about the future, we still have three years to go.
"It's too early for us to say what will happen. I don't think it's the time to talk about this. But we're hoping that he will become a candidate. But it's up to the team to make the final decision."