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Red Bull Team Boss Makes U-Turn On Yuki Tsunoda For Potential Red Bull Promotion

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has shifted his stance on Yuki Tsunoda, acknowledging that the Japanese driver is still a potential option for the team in the future. This change of heart comes several months after Horner initially cast doubt on Tsunoda’s place in the Red Bull junior team, VCARB, suggesting his time with the team might soon be coming to an end.

Tsunoda had recently been named Red Bull’s reserve driver, a position that came just weeks after he was overlooked for a full-time seat next to Max Verstappen in the main team. During the latter part of the 2024 season, Tsunoda was evaluated alongside Liam Lawson, but it was the New Zealand driver who earned a promotion, reportedly due to his consistent performance under pressure. Despite this, Horner has now emphasized that Tsunoda remains under consideration, should the need arise for a driver in the future.

With Isack Hadjar now occupying Lawson’s former spot at VCARB, Horner has also noted that Hadjar is another driver under observation for a potential future promotion to the Red Bull team. For now, Tsunoda’s place within the Red Bull family appears to be secure until at least the end of 2025, largely due to his strong ties with Honda, the engine supplier for both Red Bull and VCARB. However, Tsunoda’s contract with the team is set to expire after the 2025 season, leaving his long-term future with the team uncertain.

Back in December, Horner questioned whether Tsunoda’s continued involvement with the junior team, VCARB, made sense, especially given that the Japanese driver has been part of the setup for several years. Horner admitted that it wouldn’t be ideal to keep a driver in the support team for such an extended period. He suggested that after five years, if there was no clear path to a race seat within the senior team, it might be time for Tsunoda to move on or explore other options. Horner said at the time, “We’re acutely aware that if we’re not able to provide an opportunity for Yuki – being, in all honesty, this year [2025] – does it make sense [to keep him]?” He continued, “You can’t have a driver in the support team for five years. You can’t always be the bridesmaid. You’ve either got to let them go at that point or look at something different.”

However, as of now, Horner’s opinion has softened, and he has made it clear that Tsunoda’s talents are still recognized within the Red Bull organization. Horner acknowledged that while Verstappen and Lawson remain the team’s primary focus, Tsunoda will continue to be monitored closely. “Yuki, obviously, is in the [Red Bull driver] pool,” Horner said. “Our priorities are our race drivers. But Yuki is a very talented driver, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on him and Isack Hadjar as well.” This comment shows that Tsunoda is still very much part of the Red Bull driver pool, with the team keeping an open mind about his future prospects.

At the same time, Horner highlighted that Lawson’s immediate goal within the Red Bull setup is to focus on scoring as many points as possible in his debut season, as he aims to prove himself as a capable teammate to Verstappen. Despite the challenges of racing alongside the highly successful Dutch driver, Lawson has been warned that the expectations at Red Bull are extremely high. However, Horner remains confident in Lawson’s ability to meet those demands and perform well under pressure.

In conclusion, while Tsunoda’s future with Red Bull Racing is still uncertain, the team has shown that they continue to value his potential and are keeping him in mind for any future opportunities. His position as a reserve driver and the uncertainty surrounding his contract beyond 2025 leave room for speculation, but as it stands, Tsunoda is not being completely written off. The shifting dynamics within the Red Bull driver lineup make it clear that the team is still evaluating various options for the future, with Lawson, Tsunoda, and Hadjar all part of their considerations.