Tsunoda to get AlphaTauri F1 run in Abu Dhabi test

Yuki Tsunoda will get his first appearance in Formula 1 machinery with AlphaTauri at the young drivers’ test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

The Honda protege has impressed with a strong start to his maiden Formula 2 campaign in 2020 and currently holds fourth place in the standings, claiming his maiden win in the series at Silverstone.

It followed a ninth-place finish in Formula 3 in 2019 after Tsunoda moved to Europe having triumphed to the Japanese Formula 4 title the previous year.

“I am not only impressed with his driving in the Formula 2, I was impressed last year in Formula 3 as well and the years before,” said AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost.

“He is really high skilled driver and I think he has all the ingredients together to become a successful Formula 1 driver. He for sure will test for us in Abu Dhabi at the Young Drivers’ Test.”

F1 has not had a full-time Japanese driver since Kamui Kobayashi last raced for Caterham in 2014 but Red Bull is considering promoting Tsunoda to the championship in 2021 providing he earns the points required to qualify for a superlicence.

“Whether he will drive for us next year or not, this is being decided by Red Bull,” Tost explained. “It depends also whether he gets the super licence.

“If he continues like now and he will be within the first three or four drivers in the Formula 2 championship then it shouldn’t be a problem to receive the super licence and the rest then we will see.”