Tsunoda: Red Bull F1 would be ‘weird’ to pick Lawson over me

Yuki Tsunoda has asserted that it would be a “weird” situation should Red Bull choose to promote reserve driver Liam Lawson to the parent Formula 1 team over him.

Red Bull appeared to have finalised its driver line-up heading into the coming seasons as it announced last month that Sergio Perez has penned a multi-term renewal.

However, Perez has struggled during recent events and a meagre 15 points in six rounds has triggered rumours that his newest contract might comprise exit clauses.

Tsunoda has emerged as the standout competitor at Red Bull’s sister team, RB, as he has scored nine more points than more established team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

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But Red Bull hasn’t been enamoured with promoting Tsunoda as concerns have remained about how he would manage alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen.

Nevertheless, Tsunoda, who will remain with RB next season, is convinced that he has gathered enough experience under his belt to be prepared to make the step up.

When asked whether he feels ready to fight at the sharp end, Tsunoda said: “If I’m not ready then I wouldn’t have been able to announce the next stint even at VCARB. 

“I’m feeling ready to fight against the top teams, higher positions and even Max [Verstappen].

“In the end, they [Red Bull] are the ones that are going to decide and it’s one of the things I can’t control. 

“I’m just focusing on what I have to do in next two races, Haas is getting really close, so I have to stay focused with our team.”

With Red Bull having indicated that an evaluation of Perez’s position will take place over the summer break, Tsunoda has acknowledged that the situation can evolve.

“They’re not really rushing it, Checo was also announced [for 2025] two races before or a race before,” he added.

“Checo might perform really well and if the driver is performing well, they don’t have a reason to change drivers.

“In the end, all they’re doing, for sure it’s a good thing for Checo because they don’t want to create any pressure.

“That’s fair and also from myself, they want me to focus on what I’m doing right now.”

However, Tsunoda has accepted that delivering in the upcoming two races could be vital as Perez’s position could be precarious in the scenario his slump continues.

Pressed on whether the races prior to the summer break will take on even more significance, Tsunoda answered: “If the rumours are true, yes.

“But to be honest, like I said, I don’t know the exact situation around. To be honest, it’s probably the same as you guys. Less information than you guys probably.

“In the end, every race is very important. Like myself, the contract is not really fixed for many years.

“In the end, the same things are as usual, to be honest.”

But the Japanese driver has denied that the opportunities that could be on the horizon will create increased pressure, citing that his place on the 2025 grid is secure.

“Let’s see, I don’t feel so much pressure or anything,” he expressed.

“Those things will probably naturally come with different situations. But, I mean, there are a lot more worse pressures than probably now.

“Probably now, it’s good pressure rather than bad pressure, if you compare the last three years, not knowing what you’re going to do next year. That’s worse.

“I mean, in the end, like I said, I’m very focused on the current Visa Cash App team and see how it goes.”

Ricciardo is considered the leading candidate to take over Perez’s seat should a swap be instigated, but Lawson was handed a test appearance in the RB20 last week.

The New Zealander deputised when Ricciardo was sidelined last term and impressed to take the Faenza-based team’s strongest result to date with ninth in Singapore.

However, Tsunoda has issued that he would perceive it as strange should the circumstance transpire where Red Bull elects to promote Lawson over him in the future.

“If they choose Liam, that would be weird,” Tsunoda claimed. “I mean, for sure, Liam did a really good job when he drove in the team, but I think I did more than that.

“And we’ll see how it goes. In the end, they know how to manage the drivers.”