As the 2024 Formula 1 season progresses, speculation around Red Bull Racing’s driver lineup for 2025 is heating up. With Sergio Perez’s recent dip in form, the future of his seat is in question despite a mid-season contract extension aimed at stabilizing his morale. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has hinted that Yuki Tsunoda could be the driver to step up alongside Max Verstappen if he manages to outperform Liam Lawson at AlphaTauri (VCARB) in the coming races.
Tsunoda, who has shown consistent improvement this season, has become a legitimate candidate for a Red Bull promotion. In the early races, he demonstrated his potential, securing multiple top-ten finishes, including an impressive seventh-place finish in Australia. Marko acknowledges Tsunoda’s progress and sees him as a serious contender for Perez’s seat if he can continue to impress.
“Yuki is a candidate to drive alongside Max in 2025. The remaining races of this season will decide what our driver pairings will look like for next year,” Marko stated. He emphasized that Red Bull remains committed to its philosophy of nurturing young talent, a strategy the team pioneered with drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.
While Tsunoda is a front-runner, Marko hasn’t ruled out Liam Lawson, who recently replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. If Lawson can outperform Tsunoda in the remaining races of the season, he could also emerge as a serious contender for the Red Bull seat.
“These last races will be crucial in determining our future driver pairings. A junior driver like Tsunoda or Lawson could be the perfect fit alongside Max,” Marko explained.
Red Bull isn’t the only team investing in young talent. Marko points out that other teams are following their lead, with Mercedes bringing in 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli as a potential future replacement for George Russell, who is set to move to Ferrari. Similarly, Haas has placed its trust in young British driver Oliver Bearman, while Williams signed Argentine prospect Franco Colapinto. Even Audi is considering bringing Mick Schumacher back into the fold.
“We started this trend, and it’s great to see other teams like Mercedes and Haas embracing the philosophy of developing young drivers. It shows that the approach we pioneered is still relevant,” Marko added.
Sky Sports F1 analysts have also weighed in, highlighting Yuki Tsunoda’s mental resilience as a key asset. The Japanese driver’s ability to stay composed under pressure sets him apart from his competitors. Unlike Sergio Perez, who has struggled with the intensity of Verstappen’s dominance, Tsunoda’s robust mental strength could make him a perfect teammate for the three-time world champion.
“Tsunoda is a tough character. I don’t see him being mentally destroyed by Max like others before him. He has a strong will and determination, which could be crucial in high-pressure situations,” one expert noted.
Despite Tsunoda’s promise, his path to the Red Bull seat isn’t clear-cut. He will need to prove his superiority over Liam Lawson in the remaining races if he hopes to secure a spot with the main team. With Red Bull’s strategy firmly focused on developing the next generation of talent, the battle for the coveted seat alongside Verstappen is far from over.
The 2024 season’s final races will be critical, and the competition between Tsunoda and Lawson could determine the future of Red Bull’s lineup, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the F1 championship fight.
