Red Bull Team Announces Driver Duo Name Change After...

Red Bull Team Announces Driver Duo Name Change After…read more

In a surprising turn of events, Red Bull’s junior Formula 1 team, VCARB, has made a decision to change the team-mate names for their upcoming 2025 season lineup, following a peculiar fan response on social media. The team’s unexpected move comes after a period of driver changes within Red Bull’s structure and a lighthearted fan-driven poll about their new driver duo’s nickname.

VCARB, which is responsible for developing young talents within the Red Bull family, has undergone some significant changes this off-season. The most notable change is the promotion of Liam Lawson to the main Red Bull team for the 2025 season, following a solid run in the junior team. This move came after a series of underwhelming performances from Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s previous team-mate, which led to his replacement in the senior team. Lawson’s promotion was a major milestone for the young driver, while the vacancy left by Perez’s departure opened up an opportunity for a fresh face.

As part of the reshuffling, VCARB secured the services of Isack Hadjar, a promising young driver who will make his full-time debut in F1 with the junior team next season. Hadjar, who has proven himself in Formula 2, will now take on the challenging task of establishing himself in the competitive world of Formula 1. Hadjar will partner with Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver who has been with the Red Bull family since 2021. The 2025 season will mark Tsunoda’s fifth year with the team, making him a more seasoned presence on the grid compared to the rookie Hadjar.

Tsunoda and Hadjar will form a fresh and dynamic partnership, bringing a mix of experience and potential to the VCARB team. However, the pair’s arrival wasn’t just about performance or skill development; Red Bull also wanted to engage their fanbase in a fun, offbeat way during the winter break. As the team prepares to welcome their new driver duo, the Red Bull social media team reached out to fans for suggestions on what to call the pairing, offering a chance for followers to have a direct say in the team’s narrative.

Using their official social media platform, ‘X’, formerly Twitter, Red Bull posed the question: “Okay, we need your help, what should Yuki and Isack’s duo name be? (We will accept alternatives…).” They also presented a few options, including “Hadjnoda,” “Tsujar,” “Yusack,” and “Isuki,” giving fans the opportunity to vote on their favorite. The vote quickly gained momentum, and the team promised to consider other fan-generated ideas that would be just as viable.

The poll closed with “Yusack” emerging as the most popular choice. The name, which combines both Tsunoda’s and Hadjar’s first names, received a total of 45.3% of the vote, much to the amusement and, in some cases, dismay of the team’s online audience. Fans had a humorous, if not somewhat critical, response to the nickname, with many pointing out its unfortunate connotations. One commenter pointed out the potential for “Yu sack” chants to echo through the stands when the duo takes to the track, while another joked that “Yusack” sounded like “Yousuck,” a phrase that could easily be misinterpreted in a sport that thrives on fan enthusiasm.

While the intention behind the name was meant to be fun and creative, it seems that Red Bull didn’t fully anticipate the backlash that would follow. The playful nature of the fan interaction was clear, but the choice of “Yusack” may not have been the most fitting considering the potential for jokes that could arise from it. It also highlights the fine line that social media teams often walk when trying to engage with their fanbases, knowing that humor can easily turn into controversy.

Despite the unexpected reactions, Red Bull seems to be embracing the light-hearted nature of the situation, with the team likely knowing that such nicknames are part of the unpredictable world of F1 fandom. What started as a simple fan poll has generated a fair amount of buzz and discussions surrounding the upcoming 2025 season, and it’s clear that Tsunoda and Hadjar’s partnership is already garnering attention for reasons beyond their driving ability.

As VCARB looks ahead to the challenges of the new season, the nickname saga will undoubtedly become part of the team’s history. With Hadjar looking to prove himself and Tsunoda aiming for greater success in his fifth year, their on-track performance will eventually define their legacy. In the meantime, fans will likely continue to chuckle at the rather unfortunate implications of “Yusack,” all while eagerly awaiting the action to begin in 2025.