Red Bull Racing confirmed that it will not promote Yuki Tsunoda to its main team in the 2025 season, announcing the contract renewal with Sergio Pérez. The decision, communicated before the Grande Prêmio of the Canadá, ends speculation about a possible rise for the Japanese driver and places his future in the sport in a position of uncertainty, as his current contract with the sister team, the Visa Cash App RB (VCARB), ends at the end of the current season.
Despite the closed door in the main team, Tsunoda has been having its best season in Fórmula 1 to date. The driver has consistently outperformed his experienced teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, both in qualifying and in races, scoring points in several stages and demonstrating remarkable maturity behind the wheel. Esse solid performance places it as a valuable asset in the pilot market.
With Pérez remaining alongside Max Verstappen, attention turns to Tsunoda’s negotiations to secure a seat on the grid. Embora renewal with VCARB is a possibility, other teams may show interest in its services, especially considering its evolution and the support of important partners, such as Honda.
Tsunoda’s performance in the current season
The 2024 season has been a turning point for Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver demonstrated a consistency that was questioned in his first years in the category, transforming his potential into concrete results on the track. Ele has been VCARB’s main strength, being responsible for the vast majority of points won by the team so far, which positions it very favorably in internal and external comparisons.
His ability to get the most out of the car in qualifying sessions has been one of his high points, ensuring advantageous starting positions that often translate into results within the points zone. Além of pure speed, Tsunoda displayed more refined race management, avoiding the errors due to excessive impetuosity that marked the beginning of his career and showing skill in wheel-to-wheel duels.
The Red Bull decision and the impact on the pilot’s career
The choice of Red Bull to maintain Sergio Pérez was based on the search for stability and experience for the team, which aims to continue its hegemony in the category. Christian Horner, team leader, publicly praised Tsunoda’s evolution, but the place on the main team was seen as highly contested, and Pérez’s experience weighed in on the final decision.
For Tsunoda, the news represents an obstacle in his career plan outlined within the Red Bull young pilot program. Desde his arrival in F1, the ultimate goal has always been to achieve a seat in the main team, following in the footsteps of other drivers trained at the energy drink brand’s academy.
Now the pilot and his management team need to re-evaluate the options. Staying at VCARB for another year could be a solution to remain active on the grid, while waiting for other opportunities that may arise in mid-field teams or even in more ambitious projects for the coming years.
Options for the future and the connection with Honda
One of the most talked about possibilities for the long-term future of Yuki Tsunoda is a possible move to Aston Martin. Essa speculation gains strength due to the partnership that the British team will have with Honda from 2026, when a new engine regulation will come into force in the Fórmula 1. The presence of a Japanese driver in a team powered by its engines would be a powerful marketing strategy and a natural alignment. However, Aston Martin currently has the experienced Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, son of the team owner, Lawrence Stroll. A vacancy would only open up with the departure of one of the two pilots, which makes the scenario for 2026 still uncertain, but without a doubt one of the most promising routes for Tsunoda outside the Red Bull ecosystem.
The trajectory of Tsunoda in Fórmula 1
Yuki
His early years were marked by a challenging adaptation, with flashes of great speed overshadowed by incidents and harsh radio communication, which generated criticism.
However, with each season, the driver showed clear signs of maturity, working to control his temper and improve his consistency in races.
The arrival of Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate in mid-2023 appears to have been a catalyst for his development, and in 2024 he took on the role of team leader on track once and for all.
The factor Liam Lawson in the equation
Another element that adds complexity to the future of Tsunoda within the structure of Red Bull is the presence of Liam Lawson. The New Zealand driver, who is also part of the brand’s development program, impressed during his participation in 2023, when he replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo.
Lawson demonstrated speed and maturity, winning points and making it clear that he is ready for a starting spot. Red Bull has a dilemma on its hands: accommodate Tsunoda, who has delivered impressive results, or give an opportunity to Lawson, who represents a new bet for the academy.
VCARB’s position
For VCARB, the situation is delicate. The team benefits from the excellent form of Tsunoda, who has secured crucial points in the fierce battle in the middle of the field. The preference would be to keep the driver who already knows the team and is in his best shape.
Ongoing negotiations
With the confirmation of Red Bull, the pilot market enters a decisive phase. The next few weeks will be crucial for Yuki Tsunoda and his representatives to define the next steps in his career, whether guaranteeing his permanence at VCARB or exploring new opportunities in other teams on the Fórmula 1 grid.
The only certainty is that, with his performance, the Japanese driver proved that he has the talent and speed to remain in the main category of world motorsport for many years, regardless of the team he will represent in the future.
