Red Bull may ‘finally’ give Yuki Tsunoda a 2025 seat if he does one thing in the next six races

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Yuki Tsunoda has a new teammate for the final six races of the 2024 season. Liam Lawson has replaced Daniel Ricciardo on the other side of the RB garage.

Tsunoda has raced alongside Lawson before, with the New Zealander stepping in for five races last year when Ricciardo broke his hand. But this time the stakes are higher.

For Lawson, the brief is fairly simple – convincingly beat Tsunoda between now and Abu Dhabi, and he has an excellent chance of driving for Red Bull next year. Of course, that will depend on whether Sergio Perez improves too.

Tsunoda’s position is less clear. He’s been racing for the team, which was known as AlphaTauri when he joined, since 2021.

Helmut Marko is an advocate of Tsunoda and would likely have given him a chance at Red Bull by now if it was his decision. However, team principal Christian Horner has serious doubts.

Horner has previously intimated that Tsunoda has ‘no chance’ of an ascension. However, the failure of Ricciardo has weakened the Briton’s position in an ongoing power battle.

Yuki Tsunoda can earn Red Bull seat by whitewashing Liam Lawson

Marko has publicly said Tsunoda is an option for Red Bull, but the team haven’t disclosed his targets. A report from The Race details what might be required.

If Tsunoda beats Lawson in each of the next six weekends – three of which feature Sprints – he could ‘finally’ convince the team. They have been opposed to giving him a chance but this could force them to ‘relent’.

Optically, Red Bull could no longer justify denying the Japanese driver, particularly if Perez continues to struggle. Given their well-documented concerns, it would be surprising if he signed anything more than a one-year deal.

A stop-gap might work well given that Verstappen could leave before 2026. Red Bull are interested in Oscar Piastri, around whom they could construct a new line-up.

New 2026 option emerges for Yuki Tsunoda if he leaves Red Bull

It’s unlikely that Tsunoda will whitewash Lawson. Indeed, during their brief partnership last year, it was the debutant who scored the team’s only two points.

On the other hand, Tsunoda appears to have gone up a level in his fourth season in F1. Outscoring eight-time race-winner Ricciardo 22-12 and beating him 12-6 in qualifying is perhaps his most impressive feat yet.

Still, he’s probably the third favourite to partner Verstappen next year after Perez and Lawson. Given that Red Bull will split with Honda in 2026, Tsunoda could leave for Aston Martin (who will effectively become a Honda works team).

But he has another potential exit route too. Peter Windsor reckons Haas could pursue Tsunoda now that they’ve linked up with Toyota, though that would of course mean ending his relationship with Honda.