Yuki Tsunoda was one of the losers in the Formula 1 driver market this week. That’s after Red Bull announced that they would be retaining Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen.
Given the impressive performances he’s been delivering for junior team RB, Tsunoda would have felt he deserved the promotion. The 24-year-old has been one of the standout drivers on the grid this year, scoring 19 of his team’s 24 points.
He ranks 10th in the championship ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, with only Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ahead of him among the ‘midfield’ drivers. He’s finished in the points in five out of eight races, and each of the last three.
What’s more, the Japanese driver has been comfortably beating an eight-time race-winner in Daniel Ricciardo. Tsunoda leads their qualifying head-to-head 7-1 and has also out-raced him six to two.
One journalist says it’s ‘baffling’ that Christian Horner doesn’t seem keen on calling him up. Red Bull apparently have concerns over his historic ‘temper flare-ups’ but Helmut Marko has praised his calmer mindset this season.
Yuki Tsunoda tells Sergio Perez he still has to deliver at Red Bull
While Perez has signed a two-year agreement, Tsunoda isn’t giving up hope of driving for Red Bull in 2026. Speaking to media outlets including Racer, he warned the Mexican that he couldn’t relax.
It’s unclear if the new contract guarantees him a seat for the next two seasons. It’s possible that he has to meet certain performance criteria in 2025 to trigger that second year.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda himself is approaching the end of his deal. With both parties currently content, he’s hoping to receive a ‘formal’ offer soon after initial talks.
“I knew it kind of before already,” he said when asked about the Perez announcement. “Even [though] it’s two years, you have to still perform. In this kind of environment, anything can happen. Congrats to him, and other than that, just keep focusing on what I’m doing and proving myself.
“The team’s definitely happy with me, which all counts. Team’s happy, I’m happy. And hopefully we can have a formal discussion. But it’s definitely ongoing. And hopefully we can be in public in the same way, on the same page. Currently we’re having a good direction together.
“Now definitely, first of all, the priority is Red Bull, make sure we’re on the same page, because Red Bull is part of my life so far. Without them, we wouldn’t achieve this much.”
Tsunoda ‘keeps being floated’ as option for RB rivals
The length of Tsunoda’s new deal will be intriguing. If it’s only one year, then it may point to an imminent move to Aston Martin.
The Silverstone outfit will begin an exclusive engine deal with Tsunoda’s backers Honda in 2026. And he has a ‘good’ chance of joining, though he must wait for either Alonso or Lance Stroll to move on.
Before he signs on the dotted line with RB, he may receive offers from elsewhere. One journalist has noted that his name ‘keeps being floated around’ in conversations around the vacant Alpine seat.
While the team are hopeful of retaining Pierre Gasly, they’ve confirmed that Esteban Ocon will leave at the end of the season. That could potentially lead to a reunion between an ex-AlphaTauri duo.
Elsewhere, there’s talk that Tsunoda is ‘top’ of the list for Audi, who look set to lose out to Williams in the race for Carlos Sainz. But Red Bull may do what they can to block his exit, even though they’re reluctant to elevate him to the top team.
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