Team Boss Says Yamamoto Is Not An Option For Red Bull Or Toro Rosso

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner indicated Japanese sensation Naoki Yamamoto would not be an option for the team for the following seasons.

The current Super Formula and Super GT champion, Yamamoto, made his debut for formula one during the FP1 at the Suzuka circuit for Toro Rosso.

Even at the practice race, he impressed team driver’s Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat after lapping a tenth of a second slower than the Russian. It has led to talks about the potential for Yamamoto to be signed by teams in 2020.

Though, it may not be as a driver for Toro Rosso considering their lineup is already secured for the foreseeable period.

Horner was also categorical when he claimed the Honda backed driver was not a member of the Red Bull junior team, and that ruled him out of the running.

He did commend Yamamoto’s performance after he was invited to drive during the opening practice session. However, he claimed Torro Rosso’s primary purpose is providing options for the seats at Red Bull.

Apart from Yamamoto’s age as well, the other obstacle to him being taken in by teams is his lack of knowledge of the tracks considering he has not competed outside of Japan.

He is also a family man. Though this would not necessarily prevent him from attaining a reserve driver role or even competing, it is not the most attractive aspect for teams who have a range of options, including younger and unattached drivers to consider.

Nevertheless, Yamamoto was pleased about the opportunity saying Toro Rosso and Red Bull gave him the chance of a lifetime because he had always wanted to race in a Formula 1 circuit in Japan.

After the practice session where he stood in for Gasly, he was able to give some good feedback to the engineers, and he thanked everyone for showing up to the session though he did admit he would have preferred to have finished higher up the order.

He also said it was a chance for other Japanese drivers to get similar opportunities. He has been at the forefront of the campaign to create more slots for Japanese drivers in Formula 1 as he believes there are a lot of potentials.

For example, Yuki Tsunoda is part of the Red Bull junior team and a race winner in Formula 3.

He is currently being primed for a move to Formula 2 in 2019, and Honda believes they are going to have more success with him than with their previous offerings to formula 1.