Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has insisted that Aston Martin must “reach an agreement” with the Austrians next season should they want to sign Yuki Tsunoda, something which has been rumoured.
With Honda set to supply Aston Martin with powertrains in 2026, it’s been speculated that the Japanese manufacturer would like to keep Tsunoda close to them, given that they share the same nationality.
Aston Martin will become a Honda works team when the new power unit regulations are introduced, whilst Red Bull will power themselves whilst receiving technical support from Ford.
Tsunoda is contracted to the Red Bull family for 2024, with him set to compete in a fourth season for sister team AlphaTauri.
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It was confirmed at the recent Japanese Grand Prix that Tsunoda would enter a fourth campaign with the Faenza-based side, having shown enough improvement in 2023.
A big question though, is what’s next for Tsunoda beyond AlphaTauri?
With Daniel Ricciardo being back in the Red Bull family and having done well since replacing Nyck de Vries at the sister team, it’s widely believed that the Australian will be chosen to replace Sergio Perez in 2025.
Likewise, it’s then expected that Liam Lawson will take Ricciardo’s spot at AlphaTauri.
The Red Bull reserve driver is even potentially an option for a seat at the Milton Keynes-based team, having done so well since filling in for the injured fan favourite.
It leaves Tsunoda with very few options to progress in the Red Bull family, a position Pierre Gasly recently found himself in.
When Gasly returned to the sister team after being dropped by Red Bull, he failed to ever return to the main fold, despite some terrific performances.
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Ultimately, Gasly decided to leave the energy drink company and join Alpine, to help his career blossom.
With Tsunoda looking unlikely to ever be offered a seat at Red Bull, a move to Aston Martin in either 2025 or 2026 would give him a chance to progress, although the Silverstone-based team will need to speak to the Austrians first of all.
“Tsunoda is under contract with us. If Aston Martin are interested in him next year, they will have to reach an agreement with us first,” Marko told f1-insider.