RB insists Yuki Tsunoda is ready to make the move to Red Bull F1

RB boss Laurent Mekies believes Yuki Tsunoda has the qualities to shine in a top Formula 1 team and has helped him dispel Red Bull’s skepticism.

Red Bull is waiting for the end of the current season to decide which drivers will represent its two respective teams in 2025 as Sergio Perez continues to struggle.

Perez retains a contract for the next term, but a miserable 2024 season has increased speculation that Red Bull could opt to activate certain break clauses to drop him.

In the event that the Mexican is eliminated, Red Bull will almost certainly look for an internal replacement at sister team RB to step in alongside Max Verstappen.

But while Tsunoda is the more established name on the books of the Faenza-based squad, Liam Lawson is seen as a likely candidate for possible promotion.

Although Red Bull has outclassed the senior group’s previous insurance option with Daniel Ricciardo, he still has reservations about Tsunoda’s temperament.

However, Mekies believes Red Bull bosses could be encouraged to change their attitude towards Tsunoda if he continues to deliver consistent results at RB.

“The steps he took this year, I think, were a surprise to everyone,” Mekies told the media Motorsport week in Qatar.

“And hopefully the surprise was also for Red Bull Racing.

“I think we are in a business where everyone looks at results and once a driver starts performing or exceeding expectations, everyone will change their opinion very, very quickly.

“I think for Yuki it’s all about continuing to perform at his best on the track. And we all change our minds very quickly once we see a performance.”

Tsunoda has admitted he is unsure what more he can do to change Red Bull’s mind after qualifying third in the last two rounds in Brazil and seventh in Las Vegas.

Mekies has highlighted that such headline results are a testament to the season Tsunoda has produced and praised the progress he has made in 2024.

“Seeing Yuki perform at the level he has in the last few races again makes me think that all in all it has been an outstanding season from his side,” he said.

“I think he took a step this season that no one could have predicted and he should be proud of that.”

Tsunoda was preparing for the next step in Formula 1

Mekies believes Tsunoda, who contributed 30 of the RB’s 45 points, has reached a point in his development where he is ready to represent a leading team.

“I think a guy at this level who has scored as many points as he did this year, a guy who got the car to P7 or P3 in the last two races, of course in qualifying, I think he’s up to it ready. “Get a faster car,” he added.

“We hope to provide him with this faster car. But of course I think he is ready for a faster car and a faster team or a bigger team.”

Tsunoda’s Red Bull test

Tsunoda will get the long-awaited chance to prove his Red Bull credentials when he samples the team’s 2024 car, the RB20, at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

“As far as the test he’s going to do with them, I think it’s very important for our riders to get a chance in the bigger team, in our brother team,” he continued.

“One of our most important DNA aspects for this team is to develop our drivers and make them attractive enough that Red Bull Racing wants them.”

“We are very pleased that he passes this test and I am confident that he will perform well.”

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