Last year, Red Bull decided to replace one of their drivers, Sergio Perez, with Liam Lawson. Despite being in Red Bull’s sister teams since 2021, Yuki Tsunoda was not chosen to head into the senior team. Hence, the Japanese driver probably had one of the most difficult winter breaks of his life.
While Tsunoda has been driving for Red Bull’s sister team since 2021, the driver who was chosen for Red Bull has not even driven in F1 for a complete season. Liam Lawson replaced Daniel Riccardo for 5 races in 2023 and then again for 7 races in 2024. This is a total of 12 races, while Tsunoda has driven for 4 complete seasons.
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, gives insight on Yuki Tsunoda’s mindset in 2025
Although Tsunoda would have been upset after being ignored by Red Bull Racing, he is heading into this season with a more positive mindset. During an exclusive interview with The Race, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies gave us some insight into how Tsunoda is approaching the season.
“He [Tsunoda] has impressed me in how- he was obviously disappointed when the news came last year, and rightly so. But he came back in January with a clear mind, and with his motivation high.
“He is at peace with what happened. And he’s here to make another step.”
[…]“Yuki is our leader. He has the experience, and I think he’s making another step this winter in terms of technical feedback, really
“Straight after the test, he really gave us very, very sharp and precise technical feedback. And I think he’s taking on that leadership role well and pulling the team forward.”
So, despite being snubbed by Red Bull, Tsunoda is looking forward to another season with the sister team. This year, he is fully looking to embrace his role as team leader and has welcomed his rookie teammate, Isack Hadjar, to the team.
It is clear that he is completely focused on this season and how he can help the team. But the problem here is that VCARB is a sister team for Red Bull and cannot grow to compete on the front. The team’s sole purpose is to bring in Red Bull Academy drivers from F1’s feeder series and provide them with experience in F1 before being promoted to the Red Bull senior team.
What does the future look like for Yuki Tsunoda?
Last year, after announcing Liam Lawson as their 2025 driver alongside Max Verstappen, Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner addressed Yuki’s future with the Red Bull family.
“We’re acutely aware that if we’re not able to provide an opportunity for Yuki – being, in all honesty, this year [2025] – does it make sense [to keep him]?
“You can’t have a driver in the support team for five years. You can’t always be the bridesmaid. You’ve either got to let them go at that point or look at something different.”
Liam Lawson vs Yuki Tsunoda – Which Driver Delivered in the Final 6 Races of the 2024 Season?
Tsunoda originally signed with the Red Bull junior programme because of his connections with Honda. This sparked speculation that connected Tsunoda to Aston Martin, as they will be powered by Honda engines from 2026. But now, it has been reported that Honda is no longer supporting the Japanese driver, which means he’s on his own now.
There is no doubt that Tsunoda has acquired a special skillset and has proven to everyone in the paddock that he belongs in F1. But right now, the driver market for 2026 is quite tricky. His best option to drive for a top team at the moment is for Liam Lawson to underperform with Red Bull like many before him. This would once again bring Tsunoda into play for the Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen.
Where do you think Yuki Tsunoda will end up next year? Will he remain within the Red Bull family, or will he look for a better opportunity outside? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
