£15k-a-week F1 driver told he deserves ‘serious consideration’ for Red Bull seat

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Red Bull Racing’s driver line-up for the 2025 Formula 1 season is already being widely discussed.

With Sergio Perez in the final year of his contract, it’s no surprise that his future is up in the air, while rumours persist around Max Verstappen’s position within the team.

Writing on the Formula 1 website, pundit and IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has told Christian Horner one driver that he should be considering.

Despite Ferrari’s one-two finish in Australia, Red Bull still possess the fastest car on the grid.

It means that the majority of drivers would do anything for a chance to sign for the team to have a chance to win every race on the calendar.

Daniel Ricciardo was seen as the most likely candidate to challenge for Sergio Perez’s seat at the start of the year, but he’s struggled during the first three races of the season.

Hinchcliffe believes that his Visa Cash App RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda should be under consideration for a Red Bull seat next year.

The £15,000-a-week driver is currently the best of the rest among the bottom five teams following his brilliant 7^th-place finish in Melbourne.

Yuki Tsunoda should be under consideration for Red Bull seat – Hinchcliffe

It’s important to note that Red Bull will have very different criteria when it comes to selecting a new driver depending on which one of their two current stars they’re trying to replace.

Plans would have been put into place long ago should they decide to part ways with Sergio Perez as he approaches the end of his contract.

Christian Horner has already identified his preferred candidate to replace the Mexican for 2025 if they don’t renew this agreement.

He’s likely going to be one of the last drivers to discover his fate as Red Bull assess their options.

Max Verstappen’s situation is very different considering he’s under contract until the end of 2028.

While there is a clause that could see him before then, the likes of Mercedes or Aston Martin may have to buy him out of his huge contract to hire him.

Red Bull know who their ‘top candidate’ is should Verstappen move on, but Hinchcliffe believes Tsunoda should be in consideration if either driver leaves.

He’s going from strength to strength right now and it’s easy to forget he’s only 23 seeing as he’s already in his fourth year with RB.

Hinchcliffe praises Tsunoda after Australian Grand Prix performance

Speaking about the Japanese driver, Hinchcliffe said: “Tsunoda placed himself perfectly to be the ‘best of the rest’ by qualifying eighth and being classified seventh.

“Those points are worth their weight in gold given the current landscape in the bottom half of the field – but what’s most critical about this performance was how comprehensively he beat Daniel Ricciardo over the weekend.

“With the two RB drivers being top of the list should Sergio Perez not merit a contract renewal, drives like this weekend are showing Red Bull top brass that he deserves serious consideration.

“And if Red Bull go another direction, he is warranting his position on the grid with any number of other teams.”

Tsunoda will have a new teammate in Suzuka…for one session

While Tsunoda will hope his recent performances will mean he’s under consideration for a Red Bull drive in the future, his teammate is facing a very different prospect.

One report has suggested that Daniel Ricciardo has just two races to save his RB career, although his proposed replacement Liam Lawson’s management has responded to these claims.

RB are going to use the next race in Suzuka to take a look at another one of their prospects.

Ayumu Isawa will take Ricciardo’s car for free practice one after making the transition from Formula 2 to Super Formula.

A strong session from the Japanese driver would give the Red Bull group further food for thought about their future line-ups.