In a candid admission, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has acknowledged that Yuki Tsunoda may need to consider his future beyond the Red Bull family if he is not promoted to the senior team by the end of 2025. This revelation follows Red Bull’s decision to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson, despite Tsunoda’s greater experience and strong performance against several teammates.
Tsunoda Outshines Rivals but Misses the Mark
Over the past two seasons, Tsunoda has consistently outperformed a revolving door of teammates, including Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo, and Liam Lawson. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Red Bull’s internal analysis has favored Lawson, citing his race pace and potential ceiling as higher than Tsunoda’s.
Horner admitted the decision to promote Lawson was “very tight” but ultimately justified given Lawson’s rapid progress with only 11 Grand Prix starts.
“You can’t have a driver in the support team for five years,” Horner stated. “You can’t always be the bridesmaid. You’ve either got to let them go at that point or look at something different.”
The Honda Conundrum
Tsunoda’s immediate future remains tied to Red Bull through 2025, largely due to Honda’s ongoing engine supply deal. However, with Honda’s impending partnership with Aston Martin in 2026, the Japanese automaker could potentially open doors for Tsunoda in the long term.
Horner’s remarks also signal to other teams that Tsunoda will likely be available soon, creating opportunities for the 24-year-old to explore alternatives in a crowded 2026 driver market.
The Clock is Ticking for Tsunoda
Tsunoda, who expressed optimism after driving Red Bull’s RB20 in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, now faces a make-or-break year in 2025. While the test was framed as a gesture to Honda, it ultimately had no bearing on Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson.
Horner was clear that Tsunoda’s focus must remain on delivering stellar performances with Racing Bulls next season, keeping him in contention should a sudden opportunity arise.
“Things change quickly in this industry,” Horner emphasized. “He knows he needs to be the one demonstrating that he’s the one knocking on the door.”
Potential Landing Spots for Tsunoda
While Tsunoda’s path to the Red Bull senior team appears blocked, Horner’s comments suggest he should seriously consider alternative avenues. Haas and Sauber reportedly showed interest in Tsunoda before Red Bull exercised its 2025 option, and new entrant Cadillac Racing could offer a fresh start.
The move of Honda engines to Aston Martin in 2026 may also align Tsunoda with a competitive seat in the future.
What’s Next for Tsunoda?
Despite the challenges, Horner left the door slightly ajar for Tsunoda, suggesting that Red Bull’s notoriously unpredictable driver market could swing in his favor if circumstances shift. For now, however, Tsunoda must focus on outshining Lawson and solidifying his case as one of F1’s most promising talents.
As Horner aptly put it: “You never know what can happen. Nine months ago, we weren’t talking about Liam Lawson being our 2025 driver.”
