The Formula 1 driver’s market is in full swing with teams and drivers desperate not to miss out on the best opportunities available heading into next season.
Sauber were the latest team to hire a new driver by bringing in Haas star Nico Hulkenberg while Alex Albon doubled down on his commitment to Williams by signing a new deal.
Speaking on the Pit Pass Podcast, journalist Chris Medland shared the latest information he heard from the Imola paddock over the race weekend.
While the teams near the front of the grid have either locked in their driver pairings for next year or narrowed down their shortlists to a couple of drivers, there’s a lot more fluidity at the other end of the paddock.
Alpine are preparing for both of their drivers to potentially move on and Sauber have their sights set on multiple.
So too do Haas and Medland has suggested that he found out at Imola that Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda is ‘in the mix’ to be one of their drivers in 2025.
They already know they need to replace Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen’s future is far from certain either.
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Yuki Tsunoda ‘in the mix’ for 2025 Haas seat
There aren’t many drivers on the grid who have taken a bigger step forward this season than Yuki Tsunoda.
The campaign began with the bottom five teams all vying for a single point at times such was the split in performance on the grid.
And Tsunoda has been the best of the rest on several occasions, once again taking advantage of Fernando Alonso’s struggles to score the final point at Imola.
He hasn’t signed a contract with RB beyond this season and there appears to be no chance of him earning a promotion to the senior Red Bull team despite his strong performances.
It means he may have to look elsewhere and has previously suggested a move to Aston Martin might not be out of the question considering his connections with Honda.
If he decides to leave RB, Haas are the next-best-placed team in the Constructors’ Championship.
Under Ayao Komatsu they’ve made big strides forward this season and Tsunoda may feel that Haas is a strong team to join for 2025.
They’ll continue to be powered by Ferrari engines in 2026 which is a bonus and if Magnussen joins Hulkenberg in moving on this winter, he may even earn himself a role as the number one driver within the team should they sign Oliver Bearman as expected.
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Haas may offer Yuki Tsunoda his ideal next step in Formula 1
Talking about which drivers Haas are potentially targeting, Medland said: “The two Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have been linked with Haas actually this weekend.
“And alongside Ollie Bearman seemed to be two from three of the most likely, although Yuki Tsunoda is also in that mix I’ve learned as well this weekend.
“Haas really looking a lot stronger in the driver market than maybe they would have expected to be because of how good their car’s been this year.
“It kind of showed that all of these drivers have more options, or at least more attractive options on the grid than maybe first thought earlier this season and it means there are multiple permutations that have just been added to for who can end up where.”
Gene Haas is reportedly wary of hiring Bearman but Tsunoda would be a much safer choice for 2025.
He’s made big strides forward when it comes to his temperament in the car and is comfortably outperforming Daniel Ricciardo at this stage of the season.
Tsunoda has 73 Grand Prix entries to his name – albeit only 70 starts – and might feel that his fifth full season in the sport is the right time to take the next step.
If he ends up simply replacing Hulkenberg, he may want an apology from Kevin Magnussen for ending his race in China.
From a fan’s perspective, the Dane could be the most volatile teammate Tsunoda has faced and that could create fireworks on the track.
The post ‘I’ve learned as well’: Journalist admits he’s heard 73-race driver is now ‘in the mix’ for a 2025 Haas seat appeared first on F1 Oversteer.