RB’s Yuki Tsunoda believes “it’s quite clear” he should get a chance at Red Bull based on his performances in the 2024 Formula 1 campaign.
Tsunoda has been pitted against two team-mates in 2024, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson with both of them given the remit of beating the Japanese driver to earn a shot alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
However, Tsunoda has had the measure of both but continues to be overlooked by Red Bull as Sergio Perez‘s future hangs in the balance.
With the narrative pointing towards Lawson getting promoted, despite not having completed a full campaign at the junior team, compared to Tsunoda’s four years served, the Japanese driver rightly feels he deserves the opportunity.
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“Compared to what I’ve done this year, it’s quite clear that I should get a chance,” Tsunoda told select media including Motorsport Week ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“But I don’t know, it’s up to them. It’s Formula One, it’s one of the most political sports as well, and anything can happen.
“I’m sure the last race here is quite important. But for me, I feel like every race so far has been a very important race.
“Because starting the first race, if I didn’t beat Daniel [Ricciardo], I would be the person sitting on the sofa right now.”
Tsunoda appears to be resigned to the fact he might get overlooked at Red Bull, exclaiming “I would be surprised, but [in] hindsight, not really surprised.
“Let’s see who’s driving that seat. Depending on the driver, I may be surprised, but… I don’t know. It’s just a lot of rumours going on, and it’s hard to predict what they think.”
Tsunoda still ‘happy’ in the Red Bull family
Tsunoda revealed that although he doesn’t have much contact with Helmut Marko or Christian Horner in the paddock, which is telling in of itself, Red Bull’s Team Principal has told him “I’m keeping an eye on you.”
As a result, the Japanese driver doesn’t feel that he will be “blocked” by Red Bull and given there are few options elsewhere on the grid, is satisfied by remaining in the Red Bull family.
Asked if he’d consider leaving RB at the end of 2025 if he can’t secure a Red Bull drive, Tsunoda said it “depends on what they want. But at the same time, I don’t think there are many teams that are free.
“At least I like Red Bull, and I’m happy to continue with them, but it depends on what they think. It always depends on what they think.”
However, Tsunoda isn’t ruling out looking for options elsewhere, as he admits he’s not quite sure of Red Bull’s mindset.
“To be honest, I’m not really clear what they want,” he said.
“But as a driver I can’t just keep relying on them. Especially, since there’s been a lot of talk going on.
“So it’s always good to have something, an option, but so far I’m not necessarily trying to find that, to be honest.
“The current situation, I’m not saying… It’s not always a really bad situation right now. It depends on, I guess, what car I’m driving next year and also how the season goes next year.”
Yuki Tsunoda: Temperament and Honda connection not behind Red Bull apprehension
The question remains, however, why is Red Bull overlooking Tsunoda so readily?
There’s a lot of talk about the Japanese driver’s fiery attitude, which has been a part of his F1 driving personality being behind Red Bull’s apprehension but Tsunoda dismisses that notion.
“I’m sure I’ve stepped up in those areas,” he said.
“If [Red Bull] said that last year, it makes sense, but this year I’ve stepped up quite a lot and there’s not many occasions that I went completely out of control.
“If they said that [as a reason now], to be honest, for me at least, that’s not true.”
Moreover, the Japanese driver has strong contractual ties to Honda, and there’s speculation that the Japanese marque’s move away from Red Bull to Aston Martin is also preventing his chances at a promotion.
Again, Tsunoda doesn’t see this being an issue.
“I don’t think the reason that they didn’t want to put me in the Red Bull or whatever is not considered by the Honda things with Aston [Martin], to be honest, in my perspective,’ he said.
“Otherwise, it doesn’t really make sense.”
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