Red Bull ‘insiders’ share how Laurent Mekies is now feeling about Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 future

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Few drivers go into the final 10 races of the 2025 Formula 1 season under more pressure than Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.

There are six drivers currently on the grid who will have one eye on the Formula 1 driver market because they’re out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Mercedes pair George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli might not be too worried because Max Verstappen has now committed his future to Red Bull for at least one more year.

Alpine could still retain Franco Colapinto for next year, even though he’s the only active driver on the grid who hasn’t scored a point in the drivers’ championship.

The final trio of drivers waiting to discover their future are in the Red Bull stable, and Yuki Tsunoda’s performances immediately after the summer break will have a knock-on effect on both Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.

It appears as though Red Bull are preparing to promote Arvid Lindblad into Formula 1, which means one of their current drivers needs to move on.

New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies might not have the ultimate say on Tsunoda’s future, but his influence could be critical.

Mekies has told Tsunoda what he must do to secure his Red Bull future, and sources within the team have gauged his current opinion on the 25-year-old.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Laurent Mekies is willing to give Yuki Tsunoda ‘more time’ at Red Bull despite recent poor form

A report from Autosport has shared more details about Tsunoda’s future.

They suggest that ‘insiders’ within the Red Bull camp have learned that Mekies is ‘prepared to give him more time’, especially considering that up until the past couple of races, Tsunoda has had a very different spec car to Verstappen.

He was significantly closer to his teammate in Belgium and Hungary, even if Tsunoda was upset when he wasn’t told about changes to his car at the Hungaroring ahead of qualifying.

It’s believed that ‘all options remain open’ for next season, including Tsunoda staying with the team.

However, the report also goes on to say that it’s ‘premature’ to suggest that Lawson is in contention for a return to the senior team despite his recent uptick in form.

The New Zealander is also competing for a new contract, and if Tsunoda survives and Helmut Marko is adamant on promoting Lindblad, then he’s the likeliest driver to be in danger.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies

How Honda leaving Red Bull could impact Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 future

One of the primary reasons that Tsunoda was promoted to Toro Rosso in 2021 was that Japanese power unit manufacturer Honda backed his career up to that point.

Honda have been pivotal to the success of Verstappen in recent years, but Red Bull’s partnership with the engine supplier comes to an end at the conclusion of this campaign.

Aston Martin have signed an exclusive deal with Honda from 2026 onwards, but if Tsunoda loses his Red Bull seat, he won’t find himself in one of their cars next year.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso are already committed to Aston Martin for next season, and while Tsunoda’s camp have held talks with Cadillac, leaving Red Bull might spell the end of his F1 career.

Tsunoda could lose his Red Bull seat because Honda’s partnership with the team is ending, giving Mekies one less reason to retain him.

He needs to make it impossible for Red Bull to drop him based purely on his performances in the next 10 Grand Prix.