Despite demonstrating exceptional prowess on the race track, Yuki Tsunoda has expressed his disappointment over repeatedly being overlooked for a promotion to Red Bull’s primary Formula One team. This frustration was heightened in 2024 when he outperformed his teammates, including Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson, yet was not selected for the coveted Red Bull seat.
Tsunoda, who has been part of Red Bull’s secondary F1 team since 2021, recalled his exasperation at not being considered the “first contender” for a promotion, despite his impressive record. He notably outshone Ricciardo in the junior team VCARB, leading to Ricciardo’s mid-season dismissal. However, when Liam Lawson was brought in, he was given preference for the Red Bull position.
Tsunoda narrated the sequence of events leading up to Red Bull’s F1 2025 driver announcements. He shared that he received calls from Helmut Marko, Christian Horner, and Laurent Mekies, informing him about the final decision. Tsunoda, demonstrating his professionalism, didn’t fuss over the decision, stating that his focus remains on securing the Red Bull seat in the future.
The Japanese driver admitted that he didn’t question the decision or the rationale behind it. He was even told that the decision was not performance-related but possibly politically motivated. Tsunoda, however, remained indifferent to these explanations, emphasizing his commitment to showcasing his skills in the upcoming season.
Tsunoda may have accepted the decision gracefully, but he did not hide his irritation over the situation. Lawson, who had only 11 grands prix of experience compared to Tsunoda’s four seasons, was chosen as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Tsunoda confessed that while he has grown to understand the complexities of Formula 1 better, he has stopped trying to figure out the reasoning behind such decisions, as it only leaves him more perplexed.
The situation took an emotional toll on Tsunoda, particularly during the season’s races in Qatar, Texas, and Mexico. The constant overlooking of his abilities, even after proving his worth by outperforming Ricciardo, left him feeling underappreciated and frustrated. He struggled to keep his feelings in check on the track, focusing on maintaining consistency in his performance.
As Tsunoda enters a crucial year in his F1 career in 2025, he is under pressure to secure another role within Red Bull or find a new team. A potential alternative could be Aston Martin, especially since Tsunoda’s sponsor, Honda, is in its final year of its Red Bull partnership before switching to supply engines to Aston Martin from F1 2026.
However, Honda has recently clarified that it will not influence Tsunoda’s F1 career. In an interview with Motorsport.com, Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe stated that Tsunoda needs to make his own career decisions. He emphasised that Tsunoda is a professional and should build his support team and secure the necessary seat independently.
Tsunoda is set to compete with a new teammate, Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar, in F1 2025. Hadjar, who finished as the runner-up in the 2024 Formula 2 Championship, is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the Racing Bulls team. Despite the challenges, Tsunoda is highly motivated to show his worth in the upcoming season and secure his future in the fast-paced world of Formula 1.
