Sergio Perez had a torrid 2024 season and was dropped by Red Bull for not keeping up with Verstappen. The two VCARB drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson thus battled hard to partner Max Verstappen in the senior team. It was the Kiwi, Liam Lawson, who won the fight and will drive for Red Bull in 2025.
Tsunoda, who has been driving for the junior team since 2021, has been linked with moves away from the Red Bull family. Fuel was added to the fire when team boss Christian Horner questioned whether Tsunoda would be in the team in 2026. However, the Japanese youngster has vowed to stay.
Yuki Tsunoda wants to stay within the Red Bull family
Yuki Tsunoda wasn’t chosen to drive for the senior team by Red Bull. They went for rookie Liam Lawson, who has only competed in eleven F1 races. However, the 24-year-old has said he wasn’t “angry or disappointed” with the decision and wants to stay with the Austrian team.
BREAKING: Liam Lawson to race for Red Bull in 2025 #F1 pic.twitter.com/xOf9w4uPgu
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 19, 2024
Yuki said: “If I’m at Red Bull that’s amazing. If not, still I would still love to be part of this team [VCARB]. Whatever happens there’s going to be interesting options. But obviously, my main target is to be in this team, the Red Bull family. I got to prove myself that I deserve [to be] in Formula 1.”
Tsunoda has a contract until the end of the 2025 season. If Red Bull wanted, they could just let his contract expire and move him on. So Yuki has to impress this season. He will be the team leader as he has four years of experience. His new teammate, Isack Hadjar, is a rookie so Tsunoda will have to show his worth to stay in the fold.
What factors could push Yuki Tsunoda out of Red Bull
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner questioned whether it “made sense” for Tsunoda to stay at VCARB. The team’s purpose is to help develop young drivers so they can make it to the senior team. However, with Tsunoda being experienced, he is clogging up the development line if he isn’t promoted.
Another major factor is Honda leaving the Milton Keynes-based team after the 2025 season. Tsunoda has the backing of Honda and without it, he could find himself out of the team. Honda is linking up with Aston Martin for the 2026 season so if Tsunoda finds himself without a drive, that is the most likely destination.
Yuki Tsunoda might not have the backing of Red Bull but he has decided to stay with them. The question is, how long will Red Bull keep him? With Honda’s exit, Tsunoda might move on from Red Bull after 2025.
