Yuki Tsunoda has insisted that he “definitely deserves” to drive in Formula 1 with Red Bull as he labelled his recurring omission from the parent team “the usual story”.
Sergio Perez’s persistent struggles in the second Red Bull seat this season have prompted intense rumours that he could lose his position alongside Max Verstappen.
Daniel Ricciardo acted as Red Bull’s insurance option until his failure to extract consistent results saw him be ousted mid-season as Liam Lawson replaced him at RB.
But while Tsunoda was the one who outperformed Ricciardo across their spell as team-mates, Red Bull has remained unenamoured with pairing him with Verstappen.
Instead, Lawson has been viewed as the RB driver who could be in line to move up as Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted that his credentials are being assessed.
Tsunoda, who will pilot a Red Bull car in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, has expressed that being overlooked is something that he has become all too accustomed to.
“Some of the stories are already happening from when Daniel was my team-mate,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week in Las Vegas.
“Liam came in and suddenly he’s up.
“So, to be honest, it’s just the usual story in that team, or in the Red Bull family.”
Asked whether he warrants a seat with Red Bull, Tsunoda replied: “Yeah, 100%. I always say that.
“Definitely I deserve that seat and I can’t say more than that. Definitely [it’s] up to them.”
Tsunoda voiced his frustration prior to the summer break the credence that his recurring Red Bull omission was down to “other factors” not related to on-track results.
However, the Honda-backed driver, who boasts a contract with RB for 2025, has stated that he has given up getting heated over situations that aren’t under his control.
“There was a time that I probably started to get impatient, probably just before the summer break,” he recalled.
“But this thing, like I said, I recognise I can’t control. And it’s just part of the life.”
Tsunoda intends to continue what he’s doing
But having also inflicted a comprehensive battering on Nyck de Vries last season, Tsunoda has reiterated that he can do little more to stake a claim to a Red Bull seat.
“I just have to keep doing what I’m doing,” he acknowledged.
“I’m the one who’s racing still now and whoever they keep sending to beat me, whatever, I just keep destroying them so that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Honda can’t do more for Tsunoda’s Red Bull hopes
Honda’s support has helped Tsunoda land a maiden test outing in a modern Red Bull car, but he has highlighted that more progression depends on the Austrian outfit.
“Honda has helped me since I was young and currently Honda and the Red Bull are working together,” he added.
“I’m sure they’re pushing but, it’s just the Red Bull thing, [for] whatever reason it’s not working.
“I just stopped thinking about that and it’s just useless thing pointless to think about.”
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