P1racenews AI automatic summary:
1997 Formula 1 Drivers’ champion Jacques Villeneuve predicts 2025 will be Yuki Tsunoda’s final campaign in the series without intervention from backers Honda.
Yuki Tsunoda was not promoted to race alongside Max Verstappen after four seasons with the Red Bull-owned Racing Bulls outfit. Instead, Liam Lawson was chosen with only 11 Grand Prix starts under his belt, leading Tsunoda to compete in a fifth season with the Faenza-based team. Honda has supported Tsunoda throughout his F1 career, securing his debut Red Bull test in Abu Dhabi. The 2025 season will mark Honda’s final year powering the Red Bull teams before switching to Aston Martin, potentially leaving Tsunoda in a challenging position according to Villeneuve. Despite doubts about his future, Tsunoda performed well compared to his teammates during the 2024 season, outpacing Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson in head-to-head race and qualifying statistics. Looking ahead, Tsunoda may find himself racing for a non-Honda-powered team in 2026, with options possibly limited due to drivers locked into multi-year contracts with other teams.
