Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver for RB, recently revealed that he has not had any conversations with Red Bull about the possibility of replacing Sergio Perez in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Perez’s poor performance last year raised speculations about his future at Red Bull, as his contract ends in late 2024. Both Daniel Ricciardo and Tsunoda, who are part of the RB team, would certainly love to be considered as potential replacements for Perez. Tsunoda, in particular, has been performing exceptionally well and is currently the highest-ranked driver outside the top five teams in the driver standings. However, despite his impressive track record, Tsunoda has had no communication with Red Bull about a possible promotion for the 2025 season.
During a press conference in Imola, Tsunoda expressed his uncertainty about the situation, stating: “I haven’t heard anything from Red Bull yet, to be honest. So, I’m not sure what’s going on there. But if I can get to Red Bull, it would be great, but RB is in great shape, to be honest. So, if I can stay at RB, it would be great. We’ll see as well, I have to think about the future and you never know what’s going to happen and if you get an interesting offer, you have to consider it. I’ve been part of the Red Bull family since a very young age and would like to stay as long as possible. I feel their support as well, so I want to bring results for them and I think so far I’m doing well, so I’ll continue like this. Let’s see how it goes.”
In addition to his affiliation with Red Bull, Tsunoda has also received substantial support from the Japanese power unit supplier Honda. Although Honda officially withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season, they have maintained a presence in the sport and will return as full engine partners for Aston Martin in 2026. Honda has expressed their willingness to continue supporting Tsunoda beyond 2025, even after the Red Bull Honda power unit is no longer in use. Consequently, it would not be surprising to see Tsunoda driving for a team like Aston Martin in the future. In fact, Tsunoda has already received interest from other teams outside of the Red Bull group. He stated: “I don’t know how it will be, but I definitely feel there is more interest from other teams. This aligns with my goal of showcasing my value as a driver to other teams, that I can perform well and that I am not just a driver who is driving, basically.”
