Yuki Tsunoda shares what Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are telling him after Red Bull snub

Follow us on Google Discover

The second half of the Formula 1 season has plenty of storylines to follow, but the fate of both Red Bull-backed teams is one of the most fascinating.

On paper, three out of the four drivers within the Red Bull group are already confirmed for 2025.

Despite the best efforts of Mercedes, Max Verstappen looks set to stay with the team for another year.

His teammate Sergio Perez could technically be at Red Bull until the end of 2026 after signing a new deal before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Perez may have just four races to save his Red Bull seat which would provide another interesting challenge for the team to face.

Daniel Ricciardo has been touted as Perez’s most likely replacement despite not signing a deal for next year yet.

There’s also the impending decision on Liam Lawson’s future as Lawson could become a free agent in September unless he’s offered a seat.

This leaves Yuki Tsunoda caught in the middle of a frustrating web of clauses, ifs and maybes but at least he has an agreement with RB for 2025.

In an interview with RacingNews365, Tsunoda shared what he recently spoke about with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko.

Horner and Marko have the final say on which drivers survive at Red Bull and which drivers are forced to seek a race seat elsewhere.

READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Yuki Tsunoda shares talks with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko

The 24-year-old has confirmed that he’s held talks with the Red Bull chiefs but they weren’t solely focused on his future.

Tsunoda was adamant he was ready for a Red Bull promotion with Perez’s immediate future under serious threat.

The Japanese driver said: “A little bit [of talks], I would say – but it’s not significant [with] different targets or decisive conversations that make my future.

“Both Helmut and Christian are saying, I still have to perform and concentrate on what I’m doing.

“But if they’re happy with what I’m doing right now, I’ll just keep improving, show my good performance and see how it goes. It’s not like it’s things that I hear over my future.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Visa Cash App RB F1 Team from team principal to Red Bull relationship

Yuki Tsunoda stuck in no man’s land at Red Bull

The volatility of the driver’s market this year should have offered Tsunoda the chance to leave RB after four seasons with the outfit.

Audi were interested in Tsunoda but he instead committed to a fifth year with the team as he aims for a direct promotion to a top manufacturer.

However, senior Red Bull staff are not convinced Tsunoda could handle the pressure of racing alongside Verstappen.

Tsunoda knows he can learn from Verstappen but the pressure of fighting for pole positions and race wins is very different than trying to squeeze into the top ten, especially for a driver who is yet to score a podium.

Red Bull also have several very talented junior drivers and eventually, they won’t want Tsunoda blocking their progression.

It’s going to be fascinating to see where Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career ends up taking him.