Honda Negotiations for Yuki Tsunoda Stall Amid Red Bull-Ford Reserve Role

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe insists Yuki Tsunoda remains a "Honda driver" due to his roots in the Honda Formula Dream Project. However, the manufacturer has yet to finalize a contract for 2026, largely because Tsunoda's role as a reserve driver for Red Bull-Ford complicates the terms of his availability.

Why it matters:

As F1 enters a new regulatory era, the once-symbiotic partnership between Honda and Red Bull has fractured. Tsunoda sits at the intersection of this split, creating a complex diplomatic situation where his value to Honda as a brand ambassador and test driver is contingent on the goodwill of their former partner, Red Bull-Ford.

The details:

• Contractual Limbo: While Honda "naturally" regards Tsunoda and Ayumu Iwasa as colleagues, Watanabe admitted that negotiations for the upcoming year are ongoing and no agreement is in place.
• Red Bull's Terms: The negotiations are not with Tsunoda personally but with Red Bull. The scope within which Honda can utilize Tsunoda—potentially for Super Taikyu or WEC duties—depends entirely on the conditions Red Bull sets for their reserve driver.
• Independent Academy: Honda will not replicate the Red Bull Junior Team structure with Aston Martin. The manufacturer will continue to run its HFDP independently, developing talents like Taito Kato, and will only recommend drivers to Aston Martin once they are ready for F1.

What's next:

Honda plans to maintain its independent driver development pipeline through F2, feeding talent to Aston Martin as needed. The immediate priority, however, is clarifying Tsunoda's status to ensure he can still serve Honda's interests despite being on Red Bull's reserve bench.