Yuki Tsunoda has what it takes to wipe away Red Bull’s scepticism about promoting him to its main squad, says his current team boss.
The Japanese has been handed a first ever test in a Red Bull car after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at a time when the outfit is pondering who to have alongside Max Verstappen in 2025.
While Sergio Perez has a deal in place, performance-related clauses mean he could be dropped, with either of sister team RB’s line-up of Tsunoda or Liam Lawson then favourite to replace him.
Tsunoda has the most experience out of the pair, but Red Bull has long been unsure about whether or not he has the right level of consistency, mental strength and technical feedback to justify the seat alongside Verstappen.
But RB team principal Laurent Mekies says that there could be scope for a change of heart at Red Bull if he keeps performing.
“The steps he has been doing this year have been, I think, a surprise to everyone,” said Mekies. “And hopefully the surprise has also been for Red Bull Racing.
“I think we are in a business where everybody looks at the results, and the second a driver starts to perform or to outperform compared to the expectations, then everybody will then change their opinions very, very fast.
“I think for Yuki, it’s all about continuing to perform at a mega high level on the track. And we are all very quick to change our mind as soon as we see a guy performing.”
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Tsunoda is coming off the back of two impressive qualifying performances, with third place on the grid in Brazil and seventh in Las Vegas.
Mekies thinks those results are proof that Tsunoda has maximised the opportunities handed to him throughout a season where RB has not always been strong.
“When I see Yuki again, performing at that level like he did in the last few races, I think it was all together, an outstanding season from his side,” he said.
“I think he has made a step this season that nobody could forecast and it’s something he should be proud of.”
Asked about what he expected Tsunoda to do in the Red Bull test, and whether or not he felt he was ready for a step up, Mekies added: “I think a guy at that level, that has been scoring the amount of points he scored this year, a guy that has put the car in P7 or in P3 in the last two races, qualifying, of course, I think he’s ready to get a faster car.
“We are hoping to provide him with this faster car. But of course, I think he’s ready for a faster car and a faster team or a bigger team.
“As for the test he will do with them, I think it’s very important for our drivers to get a chance into the bigger team, into our brother team.
“It’s one of our key DNA aspects for this team, to be able to grow our drivers and to make them attractive enough so that Red Bull Racing want to have them.
“We are very happy that he has this test and I’m confident he will perform well.”
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In this article
Jonathan Noble
Formula 1
Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull Racing
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