Yuki Tsunoda: « If they choose Liam, that would be weird »
According to recent rumours, Pérez could be leaving Red Bull sooner than expected. Liam Lawson, who tested well at Silverstone, could be a candidate to replace him, a situation that Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda deplores as he hopes to move up in the parent team.
The future of drivers at Red Bull remains quite unclear despite the contracts of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez for the 2025 season. While rumors resurface regarding Verstappen’s transfer to Mercedes, his teammate Sergio Pérez could indeed permanently leave Formula 1.
Daniel Ricciardo, who previously seemed to be the perfect candidate, is now being replaced by the high performances of his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is himself being challenged by Liam Lawson. This situation does not seem to worry the Japanese driver from Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda aims for the summit
Yuki Tsunoda, a driver from Racing Bulls, caught the eye of Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull, thanks to his performances in the team. While he is already under contract until 2025, Sergio Perez’s recent results could well earn him a promotion.
Interviewed on the subject, the driver is confident about his chances of joining Red Bull. “I feel ready, compared obviously to the last three years, to fight against the best teams for the top positions, even with Max or anyone,” he confirmed. “But in the end, it is they who will decide, and it’s not something I can control. So, I’m just focusing on what I have to do in the upcoming races,” he added.
If rumors turn out to be true regarding the Mexican driver, Yuki Tsunoda is not the only candidate who could take the second place in the team. Liam Lawson, who has completed several tests with the team up to now, has proven to be particularly convincing in the latest simulator races. Skills that Christian Horner had already pointed out at Silverstone.
Although the driver is a reserve for the Red Bull team, Yuki Tsunoda remains convinced that the final decision could very well be based on experience. If they choose Liam, it would be strange. But for me, at least, I don’t think [that will happen]. It is certain that Liam did very good work when he drove for the team, but I think I have done more than that. We will see how it goes. Ultimately, they know how to manage the pilots,” he said.
An option that is not considered by Red Bull pilots
Sergio Perez acknowledges the pressure on his shoulders. After the comments from Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, the driver’s performances need to improve, but he prefers to focus on something else for the moment. “I want to go on vacation in a good mood. I am focused on myself and I will be here next year,” said Perez. With only 15 points scored in the last six Grand Prix, Perez knows he has to catch up.
Max Verstappen, his teammate, also mentioned the recent difficulties of the driver. Problems that he attributes to the car. “We can’t deny that the past few weeks have been a bit tough,” admitted Verstappen. He added that the team is working on making the car more stable and predictable from one session to another. This could be part of Sergio Perez’s bad luck.
As he heard Tsunoda’s statements about him, Pérez reacted positively. It’s one of the best seats, and it’s a good sign for Yuki that he wants to move up. It’s simply part of the nature of the sport. I have nothing against that. I think it’s good to have great ambitions in this sport,” acknowledged the Mexican driver. Pérez’s situation could well shake up the driver market once again. With him occupying one of the most coveted seats on the grid, there is no doubt that other drivers will not hesitate to enter negotiations.
