Yuki Tsunoda Impresses Red Bull in Driver Lineup Saga as Perez's

Yuki Tsunoda Impresses Red Bull in Driver Lineup Saga as Perez’s Future Remains……..read more

As the search for Sergio Perez’s potential replacement at Red Bull intensifies, F1 star Yuki Tsunoda has offered an optimistic update on his chances of securing a seat for the 2025 season. The Japanese driver, currently with Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri, took part in a crucial end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi, where he was given the opportunity to drive the Red Bull RB20. This comes after a period of speculation about Perez’s future with the team, with his performance throughout the 2024 season leaving questions about his position.

Sergio Perez’s performance in 2024 has sparked uncertainty surrounding his place in the Red Bull team. Despite driving a car that claimed nine race wins and helped his teammate Max Verstappen secure a fourth consecutive world title, Perez struggled to deliver consistent results. He only managed to collect 13 points from the final nine races of the season, failing to secure a podium finish since his victory in the Chinese Grand Prix in April. In contrast, Verstappen’s dominance throughout the season further highlighted Perez’s struggles, leaving Red Bull with a significant decision to make about their driver lineup for 2025.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, recently confirmed that discussions about the team’s driver pairing for the upcoming season would be ongoing. While Perez’s future remains uncertain, several young drivers are vying for the coveted seat alongside Verstappen. Among them are Liam Lawson, currently competing for AlphaTauri, and Yuki Tsunoda, who has been linked with a move to Red Bull. Isack Hadjar, the runner-up in the F2 championship, is also awaiting a potential full-time F1 seat.

While Lawson has often been viewed as the favorite to join Verstappen for 2025, it was Tsunoda who had the chance to impress Red Bull in the Abu Dhabi test. Following the test, Tsunoda spoke about the positive feedback he received from the Red Bull team, particularly in relation to his performance during the session. According to Tsunoda, both trackside engineers and those supporting remotely from the team’s factory in Milton Keynes expressed their satisfaction with his work, with a particular focus on his ability to provide detailed and constructive feedback.

Tsunoda, who has been with the Red Bull family since 2021, acknowledged that his speed was not a primary concern for the team, but rather his ability to communicate effectively and his conduct within the team. He pointed out that Red Bull was keen to evaluate aspects of his driving that went beyond raw pace, such as how he worked with the engineers and his general approach to handling the car. Tsunoda revealed that during the test, he made a concerted effort to deliver comprehensive feedback to the engineers, ensuring that his input was as detailed and clear as possible. This approach, he believes, helped him stand out during the test.

The importance of feedback and communication within a team is crucial in Formula 1, where a driver’s ability to relay information about the car’s behavior and performance can significantly impact the development of the vehicle. Tsunoda’s emphasis on these qualities may have played a key role in impressing Red Bull, who have always placed a strong emphasis on the collaborative aspect of their racing program.

While Tsunoda’s performance in the Abu Dhabi test was a positive step forward, the competition for the 2025 seat remains fierce. With Red Bull having multiple talented young drivers in their ranks, the decision about who will replace Perez, or whether Perez will stay on for another season, is likely to be a pivotal moment in the team’s future. The next few months will likely see continued speculation and discussion about Red Bull’s driver lineup, as the team assesses their options for the coming years.