Yuki Tsunoda will have a fifth season in Formula 1 next year according to Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko.
However the Japanese driver could have a new team mate as Liam Lawson is under consideration for Daniel Ricciardo’s seat.
Following Red Bull’s announcement earlier this week that Sergio Perez will remain at their top team for at least two more years, Marko clarified their plans for its second team, RB. He told Kleine Zeitung “Yuki Tsunoda is set, that’s clear,” for 2025.
Tsunoda made his debut for the team in 2021, when it competed as AlphaTauri. He has out-performed his more experienced, grand prix-winning team mate Ricciardo so far this year, finishing in the points five times. Tsunoda lies 10th in the championship, four places ahead of Ricciardo, whose only points score came in the sprint race at Miami.
Before Perez’s new deal was announced Tsunoda indicated he would consider joining another team if he did not get a promotion to Red Bull. “If I’ve got an interesting offer that could be better than even [RB] or Red Bull, I’ll think about it. But I also have a big loyalty to Red Bull as without them I wouldn’t be here.
“And obviously Honda as well. And speaking of Honda, maybe Aston Martin, but Aston also, they’re taken by two drivers.”
Ricciardo returned to F1 at RB last year as a mid-season replacement for Nyck de Vries. He then missed five races due to injury and Lawson made his debut as a substitute.
Now Lawson is under consideration for Ricciardo’s seat. “He is there at every race and we are in close contact,” said Marko.
One factor in Red Bull’s decision could be the possibility a rival will make a bid for Lawson if he does not get a race seat next year. “There is a clause with Lawson,” said Marko. “If we don’t offer him an active seat, he’ll be free for other teams.”
Lawson is currently acting as a reserve driver for Red Bull and RB and is not competing in any series this year.
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