Is Tsunoda Set for a Red Bull Promotion? He’s a Candidate.
Helmut Marko has indicated that Yuki Tsunoda is still in the running for a seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Although the Japanese driver has been somewhat overlooked, Marko affirms that a promotion could happen as soon as the 2025 season.
Does Tsunoda Have a Shot at Red Bull?
Tsunoda is nearing the completion of his fourth season in Formula 1, all spent with Red Bull’s sister team. Earlier this year, he received a contract extension with Visa Cash App RB, while Sergio Perez was confirmed to continue as Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull. Tsunoda outperformed his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in 2024, and starting from the United States Grand Prix, he will race alongside Liam Lawson. Marko has stated that Red Bull aims to evaluate the performances of both drivers.
“Tsunoda is a candidate to drive alongside Max in 2025. The remaining races this season will play a crucial role in shaping our driver line-up for next year,” Marko explained in a conversation with F1-Insider.com. He also noted that in an “ideal situation,” a driver from the in-house junior program would partner Verstappen next year.
“We decided to compare Lawson and Tsunoda. They will have the same equipment and conditions, and now each of them has six races to demonstrate who is the better driver,” Marko said, increasing the pressure on Sergio Perez. Although the Mexican has a contract with the Austrian team for next year, he does not have any guarantee of keeping his seat alongside Verstappen.
Source: https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/305642/max-verstappen-and-yuki-tsunoda-possibly-teammates-at-red-bull-in-2025.html
