Tsunoda rubbishes Aston Martin links as he stakes Red Bull claim

Yuki Tsunoda has rubbished claims linking him with a potential moveto Aston Martin - and the knock-on effect it could be having on hisRed Bull chances. Tsunoda will be staying for a fourth season atAlphaTauri in 2024, and enjoyed a strong end to the '23 season,leading the charge for seventh in the Constructors' in hisstrongest season to date. Backers Honda is set to join forces withAston Martin for the 2026 season, with Tsunoda touted as apotential driver for the Silverstone-based team. The Japanese racerinsists the links to Aston are spurious and hopes that the linkscirculated on social media have not harmed his chances of earningpromotion to the senior Red Bull squad - with team-mate DanielRicciardo clear that he wants to replace Sergio Perez in 2025. "Ihope so, to be honest because I don't want Red Bull tomisunderstand that I am just focusing on Aston Martin or anything,"Tsunoda told media including RacingNews365 when asked if he feltRed Bull was starting to pay attention to him as a potential seniorteam driver. "I'm with AlphaTauri and have been with Honda since Iwas 18 years old, I just need to focus on performing for Red Bull,not for Aston Martin or something like that. "Hopefully, they don'tmisunderstand these things and hopefully they really consider mefor the future. "If I perform well, then I am the driver, but if Ididn't, I understand, but if I am able to show my performance, Iwould like to have a bit more attention. "I saw on social mediathat Red Bull thinks I am already going to Aston Martin, and thatis why they don't put me in the Red Bull. "I don't know if that istrue or not, because it is social media, but if it is, than it isnot the case, but anyway, I just have to show my performance andconvince them to make sure that I am the real material to be in aRed Bull. "If it is the case, then I am not happy with it, becauseit's not true, and I don't know the conversations they are havingwith Honda - who still supply the engine. "But for Honda, what theyare saying as long as one day a Japanese driver can be successful,they don't care where I go. "They want a Japanese driver to besuccessful, and obviously, we would be lucky if we can worktogether for this success, but if they don't, they don't care aboutit - and that is what I like. "They don't care which tea you arewith, they don't really focus on Aston Martin, just Yuki Tsunodathe driver to make me a successful driver."