Another piece of the Formula 1 driver’s market jigsaw puzzle fell into place on Tuesday when Red Bull announced that Sergio Perez had signed a two-year contract extension with the team.
Sergio Perez had started the season brightly and although his form had suffered in recent races, the Mexican had done enough to convince Christian Horner that he deserved a new deal.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, commentator David Croft was talking about a conundrum this has created within the Red Bull group.
Red Bull are now the third team to confirm their driver line-up for 2025 after McLaren and Ferrari.
Their sister team – Visa Cash App RB – are in a much more precarious position with three drivers trying to secure two seats.
Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson are all eyeing a spot on the grid next year.
However, Croft believes that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko disagree over whether to keep Yuki Tsunoda next year.
Croft thinks the young Kiwi might be nailed on for a full rookie season in 2025, but Marko and Horner would make different calls on who his teammate is.
Helmut Marko and Christian Horner might disagree over Yuki Tsunoda’s future
There aren’t many drivers on the grid who have had a better start to the 2024 campaign than Yuki Tsunoda.
The Japanese driver has 74 Grand Prix weekends under his belt and the pressure was building on him to make his presence in the paddock count in his fourth campaign.
He’s immediately adapted to driving the new VCARB 01 and currently sits in the top 10 of the Drivers’ Championship.
In stark contrast, Daniel Ricciardo has had a much tougher time and after being touted for podiums at the start of the year, he currently sits 15 points behind his teammate.
It’s been telling on television broadcasts that every mistake Ricciardo appears to make on the track, the camera immediately cuts to Liam Lawson in the pit lane.
READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Lawson put in a brilliant cameo last season and has admitted he has a clause in his contract that virtually guarantees him a seat on the grid next year.
This could be bad news for Tsunoda if Marko departs amid Mercedes interest as Horner is much more likely to stick with Daniel Ricciardo.
Thankfully for the Japanese driver, his form has put him in the frame for several other seats on the grid.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
David Croft shares his V-CARB 2025 driver theory
Talking about the two RB seats, Croft said: “So, here’s the other thing. Daniel Ricciardo is he staying or is he going?
“I think if you’re Helmut Marko, you would dearly love to bring Liam Lawson into RB.
“Even if you’re being pushy, if you’re Dr Marko you’re going to want to bring him in because that’s the sole purpose of your job to bring these young drivers through and to show that there is this conveyor belt of great talent coming through the Red Bull stable.
“But is Dr Marko going to be around in that Red Bull camp by the end of this season?
“Christian Horner I’m sure would like to keep Daniel Ricciardo in at RB.
“For marketing purposes, he’s great, he’s a proven race winner and he can still turn it on.
“And I’m sure Christian Horner would like to give him that opportunity. So, who’s making that decision, is there one seat or two seats open at RB?
“I think if Marko is staying around and he’s in charge, then it’s Liam Lawson and it’s Yuki Tsunoda to carry that on, but, if Marko goes is it Liam Lawson and is it Daniel Ricciardo and has Yuki got to find somewhere else.”
Tsunoda is on the shortlist for Haas and Croft admitted that he’s not surprised he’s speaking to other teams.
READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
Which Formula 1 teams want to sign Yuki Tsunoda?
There is still a good chance that Tsunoda stays at RB especially as it appears unlikely right now that Marko will depart Red Bull with Max Verstappen more settled within the team.
However, Tsunoda is on several shortlists for 2025 which will give him some comfort if he believes his RB future is under threat.
Tsunoda is said to be at the top of Audi’s shortlist although they’re courting plenty of other drivers on the grid at this stage.
Haas are also in the mix to sign Tsunoda is he moves on after losing Nico Hulkenberg to the Audi project.
Alpine have also just parted ways with Esteban Ocon and they could do a lot worse than replace him with one of Pierre Gasly’s closest friends.
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