Towards a Tsunoda-Lawson match for Red Bull in 2025?

Of course, one must always be vigilant when analyzing Helmut Marko's always very spontaneous remarks. The special advisor in charge of drivers at Red Bull has often suggested that Sergio Pérez would not finish the year since the latter arrived at Milton Keynes in 2021, but the Mexican is still there, three years later, and has even extended his contract at a time when he was rather expected not to last the summer.

In theory assured of keeping his place at Red Bull next year thanks to a contract running until 2026, the man from Guadalajara nevertheless remains on an ejection seat, in particular due to his results deemed disappointing, especially since the announcement of his extension. Despite a decent weekend in Baku, where he was on the verge of beating Max Verstappen before its crash in the final moments with Carlos Sainz, Checo has hardly done better than 6th (at Zandvoort) over the period. Worse, you have to go back to Miami to see him in the top 4. Insufficient results that have suddenly become problematic at a time when Red Bull no longer has the same margin as before on the competition, McLaren having even taken the lead in the Constructors' championship.

Tsunoda, new candidate for Red Bull

As for the Horner-Marko duo, they are already preparing for 2025 by considering a scenario, increasingly plausible, without the Mexican. Despite his status as leader of the B team for two years now, Yuki tsunoda had never really been considered at Red Bull, in particular because of his radio messages regularly considered disrespectful by the bigwigs of the Austrian brand. It would seem, however, that the native of Kanagawa is now in the running for the seat, according to Helmut Marko.

"Tsunoda is a candidate to drive alongside Max in 2025," said the Austrian to F1 Insider. The octogenarian also specified that Liam Lawson, a reservist since the beginning of the year and who will replace Daniel Ricciardo until the end of the season from the United States Grand Prix, was also a candidate, and that his association with Yuki Tsunoda on the last six rounds of the year, could allow the Milton Keynes team to see more clearly if necessary for 2025.

I've dreamed of being a Formula One driver since I was a kid, and I'm very happy to say that dream is finally coming true. I want to thank VCARB and Red Bull for this opportunity, I'm extremely grateful and excited to get to work 🤟 pic.twitter.com/wgoMAXvHcB

— Liam Lawson (@LiamLawson30) September 26, 2024

"The remaining races of this season will decide the composition of our driver teams for next year", did he declare. "I can well imagine that a junior driver will drive alongside Max. We decided to compare Lawson and Tsunoda. They have the same equipment, the same conditions and each now has six races to prove that he is the best.".

A chance for Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls?

While Red Bull has not often hesitated to promote young drivers within its A team, this would still constitute a small event, since it has not done so since Pierre Gasly in 2019. The Frenchman stayed for six months before returning to Toro Rosso, with whom he achieved a superb podium in Brazil in the process. The global context in F1 with the advent of young drivers also seems to have broken down some psychological barriers internally.

"We started with the philosophy of giving young drivers a chance in Formula 1, declared the Austrian. Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are just three examples. The others are now following this philosophy. Mercedes Benz give Kimi Antonelli a chance, Haas to Oliver Bearman, Williams to Franco Colapinto and it seems that, fortunately, Audi is now seriously considering Mick Schumacher » he explained.

In the shadow of the duel between Lawson and Tsunoda, a French driver could take advantage of it to trace his route to F1. Currently 2nd in Formula 2 and author of a very good season, Isack Hadjar could indeed benefit from a starting position for Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, since this would numerically free up a place at Racing Bulls. These three are therefore likely to hope very much that Sergio Pérez does not get things back on track by the end of the season... the match is on!

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