Yuki Tsunoda ends speculation around his future by extending RB stay
The Japanese driver will remain with the Red Bull sister team for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Visa Cash App RB F1 Team or RB for short have retained Yuki Tsunoda for another year with the Japanese driver agreeing to extend his stay until the end of the 2025 season.
Tsunoda joined the team - then known as AlphaTauri - at the start of the 2021 season and has scored 80 points in 71 starts. There has, however, been a noticeable upturn in form this year and after just nine races this season, the Japanese driver has already outscored his 2024 points tally having finished in the top-10 in five of the eight Grands Prix so far.
Such is the improvement in his form for RB this year, speculation had mounted about the 24 year old’s potential suitability for the second driver position at sister team Red Bull. Rumours of that came to an abrupt end this week when Sergio Perez extended his Red Bull contract until 2026.
“I’m very happy to be staying with Visa Cash App RB and it’s a good feeling to have my future decided so early in the year,” Tsunoda said after the news broke.
Laurent Mekies, RB Team Principal, added: “I watched Yuki’s progress in Formula 1 with interest even before I returned to Faenza and it’s been impressive, year after year. The step up he has made this year is simply phenomenal, and he keeps surprising us all, race after race.
With Tsunoda locked in for 2025, talk will now turn to who will be his teammate at this time next year. Daniel Ricciardo currently occupies the seat and found himself on the end of some scathing criticism from former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix. Ricciardo later went on to qualify in P5 for Sunday’s race and temporarily silence his doubters.
Reserve driver Liam Lawson has been muted as a potential replacement for Ricciardo and the New Zealander has previous F1 experience having stepped in for the Australian for five races last season. Much will depend on how Ricciardo can perform for the remainder of the season.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull