Yuki Tsunoda has revealed how the heightened emphasis on improving his emotional management last season helped him to process the news that he wouldn’t be racing with Red Bull in Formula 1 in 2025.
When Red Bull announced that Sergio Perez would not be continuing with the team in 2025, Tsunoda and then team-mate Liam Lawson were soon established as the sole contenders in the running to secure the coveted position alongside Max Verstappen.
Tsunoda’s claim to a Red Bull promotion appeared greater than ever as he produced his most productive season to date with Red Bull’s satellite squad in 2024, culminating in Daniel Ricciardo, who had been the group’s initial insurance option in case it dropped Perez, being axed with six races remaining.
But despite retaining that slight advantage once Lawson replaced the Australian, the reservations that Red Bull have harboured over whether Tsunoda boasts the mental resolve to cope with being Verstappen’s team-mate resigned him to being omitted.
The Japanese driver had been outspoken on the Red Bull situation as Perez’s place became more untenable as the campaign progressed, even declaring that Lawson being nominated over him would be “weird”.
Tsunoda was composed when pressed on the topic in his inaugural public appearance since it was revealed he would be remaining at Racing Bulls, though, as he expressed that he could understand Red Bull’s decision.
Asked whether the increased attention on improving his emotional control had helped him in that scenario, Tsunoda told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview: “Definitely part of it. I think I worked really hard on emotional, especially since last year’s first race.
“Bahrain, thing’s happened. I really worked hard on it. It kind of clicks [with] me, something deeply in my heart that I really have to change myself.
“I think I made a really good step throughout the season. I’m sure there were not many races that I even shouted. For the shouting, I just probably had it barely once or twice.
“So, I think those parts I definitely felt improvements. And part of it, like you said, the reason why I was pretty calm after hearing that kind of news, it was definitely that reason.”
Tsunoda was prepared for Red Bull omission
There had been speculation mounting in the build-up to Red Bull’s announcement that it was leaning towards promoting Lawson, even with Tsunoda having made his debut with the senior side in the post-season test.
Tsunoda has revealed how such rumblings, combined with Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s demeanour in the preceding weeks, allowed him to prepare for the eventual outcome not being the one that he desired.
“But also, throughout the season, rumours were everywhere,” he highlighted.
“Even since Daniel drove from the first race. Almost every race, people were saying, ‘oh Daniel might join Red Bull because Perez is not really performing well’.
“They’re talking about every race. For me, I just want to hear a clear decision. But obviously, a bit of rumours a couple of races before the last race already started.
“Those rumours and how Christian and the Red Bull guys were behaving was not really towards my favour.
“So, I kind of also was prepared. I tried to prepare myself in my heart and mentally, so that even if I get news that I don’t want to hear, I’m able to kind of switch myself to the level that I have to be in. So, yeah, those are the reasons.”
Tsunoda relishing new Racing Bulls role in 2025
However, Tsunoda has denied that Red Bull overlooking him has provided him with added motivation going into the season, citing that he is concentrated on stepping up to his newfound role as the senior driver at Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.
“Motivation is kind of the same as last year,” he addressed. “I just completely put those things away from my brain. So, I don’t really look for Red Bull now.
“My target is clear: to make this team in the best shape as possible until the first race. To race as strong as last year, what we had in the first half of the season in order to achieve P6 in the Teams’ Championship.
“Also, as a driver, I want to also step up as a special leader. To the point of the things I have to improve myself. Also to the team [to prove] that I can be a proper leader to help them in general feedback and directions.”
Tsunoda eager to prove he’s a leader
Horner has disclosed that Red Bull might have to consider releasing Tsunoda with Arvid Lindblad waiting in the wings, despite the driver having voiced his willingness to remain with the organisation’s sister team going into the rules revamp coming in 2026.
With his prospects beyond this season in the balance, Tsunoda has acknowledged that extending his current spell with the Faenza-based squad will depend on demonstrating that he has the capabilities to lead the team.
Asked how important Racing Bulls making progress is to his own career endeavours, Tsunoda said: “Obviously, I would like to go to the teams that are performing really well from previous seasons and top teams.
“If this team performs really well that would be amazing. That would be for sure the happiest thing I can achieve this season. Anything can happen.
“But for sure, to make them happy and to make them motivated to want me to stay for next year, I need to prove those leadership [qualities] as well, not just performance. I think that would be [the] key things also for myself to show them as a driver this year.”
READ MORE – Racing Bulls expecting ‘another step’ from Yuki Tsunoda in F1 2025
