Yuki Tsunoda has once again expressed frustration over being sidelined for a Red Bull Racing seat, despite his solid performances in Formula 1. With rumors swirling around Sergio Perez’s potential departure and Liam Lawson being touted as a top contender, Tsunoda has made it clear he feels overlooked—and he’s had enough.
“The Usual Story in the Red Bull Family”
Tsunoda didn’t hold back when asked about his position within the Red Bull setup, labeling his omission as part of the “usual story” in the team’s ecosystem. Despite outperforming Daniel Ricciardo during their brief stint as teammates and consistently besting others sent to challenge him, Tsunoda remains on the sidelines for a seat alongside Max Verstappen.
“Liam came in and suddenly he’s up,” Tsunoda told reporters. “To be honest, it’s just the usual story in that team or in the Red Bull family.”
“I Definitely Deserve That Seat”
The Japanese driver, backed by Honda, is adamant that he’s done more than enough to earn a shot at Red Bull Racing. Tsunoda pointed out his dominance over multiple teammates, including Nyck de Vries and others, as evidence of his capabilities.
“Definitely I deserve that seat. I can’t say more than that,” he stated bluntly. “I’m the one who’s racing still now, and whoever they keep sending to beat me, I just keep destroying them.”
“Frustration and Acceptance”
Earlier in the season, Tsunoda hinted that his continued exclusion from Red Bull might be influenced by factors beyond his on-track performance. While he admitted to feeling impatient before the summer break, he has since resigned himself to focusing on what he can control.
“There was a time I started to get impatient,” he said. “But this thing, I recognise I can’t control. It’s just part of life.”
Honda’s Role and Future Prospects
Honda’s backing has secured Tsunoda a chance to test a modern Red Bull car during the post-season Abu Dhabi session, but he remains skeptical about whether that will lead to a promotion. He acknowledged Honda’s efforts on his behalf but suggested that Red Bull’s internal dynamics might be the true hurdle.
“Honda has helped me since I was young,” Tsunoda explained. “I’m sure they’re pushing, but it’s just the Red Bull thing—whatever reason, it’s not working.”
“Tsunoda’s Battle Plan”
For now, Tsunoda is channeling his frustration into on-track dominance. His strategy? Prove his worth by outperforming whoever Red Bull throws into the mix.
“I just have to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “Whoever they send to beat me, I’ll just keep destroying them.”
“Will Red Bull Ever Bet on Tsunoda?”
Despite his fiery determination and a growing resume of solid performances, Tsunoda faces an uphill battle to break through Red Bull’s notoriously political system. With the team eyeing rising stars like Liam Lawson, Tsunoda’s path to a top-tier seat may require more than just strong results—it may need a seismic shift in Red Bull’s philosophy. Until then, Tsunoda seems ready to keep fighting, one lap at a time.
