'Millionaire's son on his way to AlphaTauri after talking to Marko?'

Rumors

6 October 2020 at 10:36
  • GPblog.com

Now that Honda is leaving as Red Bull's engine partner, the chance of a seat in Formula 1 for Yuki Tsunoda seems to be much smaller. In fact, Nikita Mazepin would be in talks with Red Bull for a seat at AlphaTauri.

Options for AlphaTauri

For a year now, it seems certain that Daniil Kvyat will have to leave AlphaTauri. The Russian has already had his extra chances and is clearly not up to Pierre Gasly in 2020. In Red Bull's training, no one really seems ready for the next step, so Yuki Tsunoda was a good option. Honda's talent would only strengthen the bond with Honda and the Japanese show good things in Formula 2.

Now that Honda will leave Formula 1 at the end of 2021, it remains to be seen how much value Tsunoda still has. Maybe Kvyat will be allowed to stay or Alexander Albon will be returned to AlphaTauri and Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez will get the chance to go next to Verstappen. However, there now seems to be another player on the market.

Mazepin to Red Bull?

According to Motorsport.com Helmut Marko has spoken with Dmitry Mazepin and Hitech team boss, Oliver Oakes during the Grand Prix weekend in Russia. Where at first this looked like a conversation about Hitech Formula 3 drivers from the Red Bull training, Liam Lawson and Dennis Hauger, this now takes on a whole new meaning.

Why Mazepin, as sponsor of Hitech, had to be present at that conversation is a bit vague, where a conversation about his own son makes sense. Nikita Mazepin drives Formula 2 and his father would do anything to get him into F1. There are rumours that he wants to buy Haas over and he made an earlier bid for Force India, but was then trumped by Lawrence Stroll. Whether Mazepin will actually get the seat at AlphaTauri remains to be seen, of course.