TSUNODA STAYS PUT FOR 2025

Yuki Tsunoda will remain with VCARB for 2025, the Italian team announced in Montreal, minutes before the start of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. 

With other teams showing interest in hiring the young Japanese driver for next year, Red Bull decided to make a decision much earlier than normal for the Faenza-based team and took the option it had over Tsunoda’s services for 2025. 

This way, the 24-years old can continue to focus on his driver and the development of the car, finally having the stability that was lacking since his rookie season, as the Japanese has always been on one-year deals, being conformed for the following year quite late in the season.

A delighted Tsunoda said that, “I’m very happy to be staying with Visa Cash App RB and it’s a good feeling to have my future decided so early in the year. 

“For that, I want to thank everyone at Red Bull and Honda, who have played such an important role in my career and will continue to do so.”

Confident about the team’s progress, Tsunoda added that, “the team has a big development project ahead and I’m excited to be part of it. It’s great to know that everyone appreciates all the hard work I have put in and that the team believes I can help it move further up the grid. 

“We have already made clear progress this season and that really motivates me to always give of my best and that’s what I’ll continue to do with VCARB.”

In conclusion, the young driver vowed that, “for the moment, I’m concentrating on the remaining races this season, with the aim of bringing home as many points as possible, always growing with the team, laying the groundwork to do even better next year!”

Team Principal Laurent Mekies was equally pleased with this early decision, recalling that, “I watched Yuki’s progress in Formula 1 with interest even before I returned to Faenza and it’s been

impressive, year after year.”

The Frenchman recognized that, “the step up he has made this year is simply phenomenal, and he keeps surprising us all, race after race. 

“There’s no doubting his natural speed to which he has now added a much more mature approach and this combination makes him a very quick and consistent performer, and a great team player. 

“We continue to get a better understanding of what he needs from us and vice versa, so we are progressing together, Yuki as a driver and the team, as Visa Cash App RB. 

“We share the same ambitions, so there are several good reasons to continue our journey together. He still has a lot to give!”

Finally, the team’s CEO, Peter Bayer reminded everyone that, “Yuki is a graduate of both the Red Bull and Honda Junior Driver programmes and it’s thanks to a good job from all parties that he’s been able to reach his current level of performance.”

The Austrian then concluded that, “as the saying goes, ‘never change a winning team’, so we are delighted to confirm Yuki as part of our future. He is a valuable asset on and off the racetrack, as his engaging nature has made him very popular with fans around the world. We are excited that he is staying with us.”

The fact there’s no mention of who will be Tsunoda’s 2025 team mate is a clear sign that Daniel Ricciardo is yet to do enough to convince Red Bull’s management he deserves another season with their second team, but it’s also puzzling there has been no decision to promote Liam Lawson immediately, as with Pérez’s locked in contract with the main team, there won’t be room for Ricciardo there until 2027 and he’s adding nothing to his career racing for VCARB.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

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