The future of Fernando Alonso’s team could be in the hands of the pilot Yuki Tsunoda according to the new Formula 1 ally
After confirming your colaboration with Sling from 2026, Aston Martin has its sights on Yuki Tsunoda, a promising driver who graduated from the Honda academy. This change coincides with the implementation of a new generation of power units in Formula 1. This union means that, for the first time, the team will become an official entity, enjoying exclusive use of the Honda power unit.
There are still nearly three seasons to go until F1 2026, making it difficult to say for sure what the F1 driver line-up will look like. Aston Martinthat currently consists of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Honda, with its own cast of protégés in the competition, hopes that some of them could “become candidates” for a seat at Aston Martin as part of this partnership.
The pilot Yuki Tsunoda the hope of Honda
The rider Honda has in mind is Yuki Tsunoda, graduated from his academy and has competed with Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri since its Formula 1 debut in 2021. “He’s originally from our school and in Formula 1 he’s doing very well,” Watanabe said, during the announcement of the partnership between Aston Martin and Honda.
Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of Aston Martinalso has shown his enthusiasm for Tsunoda’s progression in AlphaTauri and believes the Japanese driver would “love” to continue his partnership with Honda at Aston Martin. “He’s making a great impression this year,” said Tsunoda’s Whitmarsh. “He is still very young, but relatively experienced and I think he has made great progress. He is tremendously exciting.”
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, obstacles for Tsunoda
Despite Tsunoda’s continuity in Formula 1 was not always guaranteed During his first two seasons with AlphaTauri, the 23-year-old is now beginning to realize his team boss Franz Tost’s prediction that every driver needs three years to adjust to Formula 1. So new opportunities are not they have been slow to arrive.
However, unless things drastically change, Tsunoda lacks the charisma and established reputation that Alonso has, and it’s highly unlikely team owner Lawrence Stroll would fire his son Lance, who fills the role Tsunoda is expected to fill. This really is a situation that will develop over time and could even turn into a tough discussion between Aston Martin and Honda.