Red Bull boss Christian Horner has left the door open for Yuki Tsunoda to seize any opportunity that arises with the team during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Sergio Perez and Red Bull parted ways and the team elected to choose Liam Lawson as his replacement a day later.
Lawson, with just 11 GP starts was selected ahead of Tsunoda who has spent four seasons at the Red Bull sister team, Racing Bulls.
However, despite being spurned on this occasion, Horner has said Tsunoda is aware that he could still see an opportunity coming his way with Red Bull next year.
said Horner (via The Race), said that he “spoke with [Tsunoda]” to let him know of Red Bull’s verdict.
“He said he was enjoying having some wagyu beef while he was on his time out, but his motivation was to demonstrate that he warrants that opportunity,” Horner added.
“The Racing Bulls team will hopefully make a step forward again next year as they utilise the [Red Bull] rear suspension and the gearbox, and the aspects that they’re allowed to use.
“As that team and new management matures, that team will naturally take a step forward.
“I think he’s very determined. He knows that things change very quickly.
“Who would’ve thought nine months ago we’d be sitting here talking about Lawson being our driver for 2025?
“Things change quickly in this industry and he’s aware of that and knows that he needs to be the one demonstrating that he’s the one knocking on the door.”
How realistic is a Tsunoda Red Bull promotion in 2025?
Lawson was selected ahead of Tsunoda because, despite his relative inexperience and the stats showing he fared slightly worse against the Japanese driver in 2024, Red Bull believes the New Zealander has a higher ceiling.
Horner has also emphasised that Red Bull doesn’t want to put pressure on Lawson as he takes on Max Verstappen next year.
However, Red Bull has a habit of making mid-season driver changes with both of its teams and despite Tsunoda repeatedly being overlooked, should Lawson fail to meet expectations, the Japanese driver might finally receive an opportunity at the senior squad.
Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko has said words to that effect, telling F1-Insider: “He’s in Japan at the moment and I spoke to him on the phone.
“He was relatively relaxed about the news,” Marko added.
“I told him that he should continue to step on the gas with the Racing Bulls and then we’ll see.
“He reacted positively.”
Still, despite dangling a carrot in front of Tsunoda that he should be ready if a chance comes his way – after four years of being overlooked it looks as if the writing is on the wall for the Japanese driver and that he should start looking elsewhere to continue his F1 development.
One saving grace, however, could be his maiden Red Bull test in Abu Dhabi in December which came about at the behest of Honda.
Red Bull was reportedly “impressed” with Tsunoda’s feedback and thus a seed has been sewn with the Milton Keynes squad should it call upon his services.
READ MORE – Helmut Marko reveals why Red Bull picked Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda
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