Tsunoda confirmed for post-season F1 test with Red Bull
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Red Bull has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will be behind the wheel of the Milton Keynes-based outfit's RB20 at Formula 1's post-season test in Abu Dhabi in December.
Tsunoda's long-awaited test will mark the first time the Japanese driver enjoys a proper run onboard a contemporary Red Bull F1 car.
The Japanese charger previously sampled Red Bull's championship winning RB18, but in the context of Goodwood's Festival of Speed.
The Abu Dhabi test, however, will be a more serious affair, allowing Tsunoda to experience a championship-caliber car in a proper testing environment.
The push for this test came largely from Honda, Red Bull's engine supplier. Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, had previously expressed strong interest in seeing Tsunoda get a chance in a Red Bull car.
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Team boss Christian Horner acknowledged this, stating that the test had been "agreed for quite some time" after discussions with Honda.
"Yuki is a member of the junior team, and it's something that we have discussed with Honda," the Briton explained.
"He will test the car at the tyre test following the conclusion of the season, and it's something that has been agreed for quite some time.
"It will again be good to give him a run and get the opportunity to work with Red Bull Racing's engineers and see how he performs in a Red Bull Racing car."
The move to have Tsunoda in the RB20 comes amidst growing speculation about Red Bull's future driver line-up. Tsunoda's Visa Cash App RB teammate, Liam Lawson, has already had a chance to test the RB20 earlier this year and has been making headlines as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, whose form has come under scrutiny in recent months.
Lawson's successful runs have further fueled discussions about the Kiwi's potential promotion to the senior team.
When asked about the team's driver plans for 2025, Horner was clear that Perez remains under contract for the next season but acknowledged the need for thorough discussions within the team to finalize their line-ups.
"As I mentioned earlier, Checo has a contract for next year, so he's currently our driver for 2025," Horner said.
"Obviously there is a seat available at VCARB, but they're all Red Bull Racing drivers that are on loan.
"We have the benefit of time to sit down with Laurent [Mekies, RB team principal] and Peter [Bayer, RB CEO] and look at all the options."
For Tsunoda, who has shown promise and flashes of speed during his time with Red Bull's B team, next December's test will provide the 24-year-old with valuable experience and potentially with an opportunity to open new doors in his F1 career.
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