Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has been credited for bringing his team into the spotlight owing to his tally of four podium finishes in the first five races.
Far from being a midfield team this season, Aston Martin is currently being viewed by many as the dark horses of this edition.
Despite all the success Alonso has achieved, he may not be able to hold on to his seat much longer owing to the new deal his team has struck with Honda.
It is no secret that Alonso’s relations with Honda soured during his time at McLaren.
It has now been rumoured that Honda, who will partner with Aston Martin starting 2026, have a condition that Alonso should not be part of the team.
By then, it is completely possible that Alonso himself would have quit the world of F1, given that he would be 45 years old.
However, with Alonso showing no signs of slowing down, it does complicate matters for Aston Martin, who are otherwise extremely positive about the benefits of a union with Honda.
One name that is now being linked with Alonso’s seat is AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda, who the Japanese manufacturer believe would be a perfect fit at the team.
Tsunoda is reportedly already on Aston Martin’s radar, with CEO Martin Whitmarsh speaking about the potential of seeing the Japanese driver in green.
“He’s very young still, but relatively experienced but I think he’s made great progress. It’s tremendously exciting,” he said.
The fact that Tsunoda is Japanese is also a factor in his consideration.
Thanks for the champagne Miami 🍾. Great car and strategy. 4th podium of the season. We are @AstonMartinF1 🟢🟢🟢🟢. #f1 #miami #astonMartin pic.twitter.com/B9k2vSDYoy
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) May 8, 2023
Whitmarsh said, “He must be considered as a candidate. I’m sure he would love to drive a Honda-powered car.”
While nothing is set in stone as of now, Whitmarsh has claimed that he will have some ‘serious discussions’ with the 23-year-old in the near future.
Honda returning to F1 is great for the sport, but if it forces Alonso out despite his success for Aston Martin, it will leave a bad taste.
Of course, very few drivers have managed to continue driving till the age of 45 and it is completely fathomable that Alonso himself will bow out of the sport and move to endurance racing.
Do you think Tsunoda would be a good fit at Aston Martin? Let us know in the comments.
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