Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda will race for Racing Bulls in 2025, his fifth season with Red Bull’s junior team. 

Tsunoda was overlooked by Red Bull as they chose Liam Lawson to be Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 F1 campaign. It means Tsunoda is resigned to yet another season at Faenza, leading their charge in the midfield. 

The Japanese driver didn’t do a lot wrong for RB in 2024. It was his most consistent season yet, maintaining a decisive edge over Daniel Ricciardo during the first half of the campaign.

Alongside Isack Hajdar, Tsunoda will be expecting to dominate his teammate to put himself in the shop window for 2026, given that the Red Bull door appears to be closed.

Tsunoda’s F1 career started in 2021 at AlphaTauri following a rapid rise through the junior ranks. Ahead of his first season in F1, Tsunoda had spent just two years racing in Europe. He endured a crash-strewn season in machinery that was often capable of finishing well inside the top 10 in the hands of Pierre Gasly. Tsunoda ended the year well with a P4 finish at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Tsunoda made a notable improvement for 2022, although Gasly maintained the edge before leaving for Alpine. Red Bull then put Nyck de Vries alongside Tsunoda for 2023, with many tipping the veteran Dutchman to have the upper hand.

Tsunoda continued to make gains, dominating de Vries in the head-to-head, leading to his mid-season sacking, which paved the way for Daniel Ricciardo’s return. From 2023 onwards, Tsunoda was consistently the second-best performing Red Bull driver behind Max Verstappen.

Despite his improved consistency and performances, it was Ricciardo who was the favourite to replace Sergio Perez in the middle of 2024. Ricciardo wasn’t handed the promotion and was replaced by Lawson after the Singapore Grand Prix, who has been given the call-up to Red Bull for 2025.

Tsunoda’s F1 future likely lies outside the Red Bull family, with Aston Martin, Audi or Cadillac potential options down the line.