P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yuki Tsunoda has probably been the fastest driver not named Max Verstappen on Red Bull’s F1 books across 2023 and 2024. So why is he such a long shot to be Verstappen’s team-mate?
Yuki Tsunoda’s chances of moving up to Red Bull’s Formula 1 team are slim, even if they choose to replace Sergio Perez. Red Bull is set to have a meeting after the Abu Dhabi season finale to decide on their 2025 driver line-ups. While Red Bull prefers Perez to step down voluntarily, they are prepared to pay him off if needed, as he signed a contract until 2026 in June. Liam Lawson is currently the front-runner to team up with Max Verstappen, potentially leaving Tsunoda out of the picture. Despite his strong performances in recent seasons, Tsunoda’s future at Red Bull remains uncertain, especially with Honda’s influence on his career path. Christian Horner praised Tsunoda’s speed and progress but highlighted the immense pressure of partnering with Verstappen in Formula 1.
