Alan Permane: “Bringing Yuki Tsunoda to Red Bull must remain an objective”

The race director of Racing Bulls, Alan Permane, stated that advancing Yuki Tsunoda to the Red Bull team must remain a priority for the team, despite the decision not to promote him for 2025.

Red Bull has chosen Liam Lawson, the less experienced teammate of Yuki Tsunoda in 2024, to replace Sergio Perez in the main team next season, which forces the Japanese driver to remain in the junior team for a fifth consecutive season, a frustrating decision for him.

This preference could be explained by Liam Lawson’s ability to provide better technical feedback and by the difficulty of competing with Max Verstappen, considered one of the most demanding teammates on the grid.

Read also: What future for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull?

Alan Permane supports the Japanese driver.

Alan Permane, who joined Racing Bulls in 2023 after his stint at Alpine, admits he initially had preconceived notions about Yuki Tsunoda’s strengths and weaknesses, but claims that the 24-year-old driver pleasantly surprised him.

« I have to admit that I was guilty of that when I arrived. I don’t know if he has progressed this year because I don’t have a point of comparison », said Alan Permane to Autosport. « Of course, there are inconsistencies he needs to correct and many areas to fine-tune. But he is 24 years old, he is still young and has all the time to improve. And he knows what he needs to work on. »

« You can hear and see his frustration when he makes mistakes, but there is no doubt about his speed. He is very fast, his technical feedbacks are excellent, and his English is impeccable. I don’t know if that has been a limitation in the past, but I see no obstacle in that area. Working with him is a real pleasure. »

In search of a place at Red Bull

Alan Permane insists that the goal for Yuki Tsunoda and his team should remain a promotion at Red Bull. « If I can help him improve, even by 1%, I will be very happy », he stated.

« Nothing would make me prouder than bringing him to a level where he could join the main team at Red Bull. That’s rightfully his goal, and it should be ours. One of the reasons for this team’s existence is to develop talent. If we can make him a race winner, that would be fantastic. »

Alan Permane cites drivers like Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris as examples of calmness and control on the track, particularly highlighting the Dutchman’s impressive victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, a model of managing difficult situations.

« When Yuki gets frustrated, he then gets angry with himself for getting frustrated. He knows it and is working hard on it », he adds. « I told him: ‘Listen to Oscar on the radio.’ He’s in his second year and he never loses his cool. Lando is the same, and they are both very fast. »

We even reviewed the race in Brazil. It was a very intense situation, but Max and his engineer were talking as if they were having a coffee together. That’s the benchmark. All this information is available to help these drivers progress, and it’s one of the focus areas with Yuki.

Alan Permane concludes by reminding that there are areas to perfect for Yuki Tsunoda, but managing his emotions is a key aspect. « When things don’t go well, he just needs to come back, decompress, and analyze. That’s what he’s currently working on. »