Toro Rosso opens the door to Honda's Fukuzumi

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Franz Tost says Toro Rosso will likely include a Japanese driver "sooner or later" in its line-up, with Honda's F2 racer Nirei Fukuzumi well positioned to join the Faenza-based outfit.

The junior bull squad has entrusted its cars to Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley this season, but past performance is no indication of the future as Helmut Marko's ruthless approach to driver selection has often shown.

Honda currently supports two of its protégés in F2, Fukuzumi and Tadasuke Makino, with former considered to be first in line for a graduation to the big time.

Toro Rosso's Key: 'Life at the track easier with Honda'

"Of course, there is the Honda link, and what we want is to have sooner or later a Japanese driver," Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost told Autosport when asked about Fukuzumi's prospects.

"Here, it is in his hands. He must show a good performance and then we will see."

The 21-year-old Arden driver hasn't exactly set F2 alight with his spectacular performances this season, having secured just a single point in the six races held to date, while Russian Times' Makino has a current tally of four points in the series standings.

Regardless of Honda's ambitions, neither driver is currently eligible for an F1 superlicence, which perhaps makes any discussions about the future a bit futile and premature.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.