On Thursday, the second domino fell in F1’s driver market. Fernando Alonso may have been interested in the vacancy left by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, but he ultimately decided to re-sign at Aston Martin.
Alonso has committed to at least two more years with the British team, taking him out of contention for two top drives. While the Silver Arrows are working to replace Hamilton, the future of Sergio Perez is uncertain at Red Bull.
That raised the possibility of Alonso potentially partnering Max Verstappen in what would be the only line-up on the grid featuring two world champions. The Spaniard, though, is happy where he is.
Perez came into this year under pressure knowing that he was only a one-year deal and had finished a record 290 points behind Verstappen last year. He’s responded well so far, securing three runner-up finishes in four races.
The Mexican is aware that his seat is perhaps the most coveted on the grid, even if its occupant has to face Verstappen. Red Bull also have the option, of course, to promote from within thanks to sister team RB.
Lawrence Barretto says Red Bull aren’t taking notice of one on-form driver
Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, Barretto expressed surprise that Yuki Tsunoda doesn’t appear to be a contender for Red Bull. Tsunoda has been one of the standout drivers of 2024, scoring six points to push RB to the front of F1’s midfield.
He leads multiple-race-winning teammate Daniel Ricciardo 4-0 in the qualifying head-to-head, and the Australian hasn’t been able to bring home a point in the same machinery. This was a driver who looked a ‘dead-cert’ to replace Perez if he delivered this year.
But despite all of that, Barretto says Red Bull don’t seem to be paying Tsunoda much mind. His name is conspicuous by its absence in the ‘conversation’ around the second Red Bull seat, with even reserve Liam Lawson considered a more likely long-term candidate.
He said: “They don’t seem bothered by him, do they? No matter what performance he delivers, and the consistency that he’s showing, he’s never in the conversation.
“It might be because they’ve got a Checo option, a Ricciardo option, a Lawson option, that they’ve already just mentally decided that he’s not the one for them unless they really need to.”
Could Yuki Tsunoda go to Audi?
It’s possible that Tsunoda’s temperament has counted against him among the top brass. The 23-year-old recently compared himself to a character from ‘Monsters Inc’ as he admitted that he sometimes gets overly angry behind the wheel.
Red Bull may regard this as a ‘fundamental flaw’ in his driving style, and lean towards someone they consider a calmer head. But that could cost them a talent who’s in the form of his life.
Indeed, Tsunoda’s displays aren’t going unnoticed. A recent report from Germany suggested that he’s bound to have caught the eye of 2026 entrants Audi this year.
The prospect of him joining Aston Martin has significantly diminished after Alonso’s deal, with Lawrence Stroll set to stick by his son Lance. Aston are poised to begin an exclusive engine deal with Japanese giants Honda in 2026.
Aside from that, while half the grid are out of contract, including both drivers at Haas and Alpine, and one at Williams, appealing options are scarce. Thankfully for Tsunoda, it’s still early days in his career.
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