Tsunoda ‘can’t keep relying’ on Red Bull as F1 seat decision nears

Yuki Tsunoda has said he cannot keep "relying" on Red Bull amid the uncertainty surrounding the team's F1 driver line-up plans for 2025.

The RB driver feels it is "not really clear" what the Milton Keynes team wants as it drags its heels over whether to fire the underperforming Sergio Perez.

Even if that decision is made, it remains likely Liam Lawson would get the nod to partner Max Verstappen over Tsunoda, despite the Japanese driver out-performing the 22-year-old and having significantly more experience in F1.

It leaves Tsunoda unsure of where he stands and what his long-term future might hold with Honda - which has provided considerable financial backing to him - leaving Red Bull for Aston Martin at the end of next year.

"To be honest, it's not really clear," the 24-year-old told media including RacingNews365 when asked about the situation.

"I could be in the 2026 VCARB [RB] as well... to be honest, I'm not really clear [on] what they want, but as a driver, I can't just keep relying on them, especially, [as there has] been a lot of talk going on.

“So it's always good to have some options, but so far, I'm not necessarily trying to find that... It's not that I'm in a really bad situation right now. So [it] depends on, I guess, what car I'm driving next year, and also how the season goes next year."

'It's quite clear I should get a chance'

Nevertheless, Tsunoda maintains he should be given the opportunity to impress alongside Verstappen. 

With the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being billed as a showdown between the two RB drivers in the stakes to replace Perez, he was sure to stress that every race has had value. 

"What I've done this year, it's quite clear that I should get a chance," Tsunoda insisted. "But it's up to them [Red Bull].

"Formula 1 is politics as well as a sport, and anything can happen.

"I'm sure, partly, the last race here is quite important, but for me, I feel like every race so far has been a very important race."

When it was queried with Tsunoda about whether his pathway to Red Bull had been blocked and if he had spoken to Christian Horner or Helmut Marko about the situation, he denied the suggestion and replied: "First of all, we don't talk much, because their part of the paddock is far away.

"But I don't think so, because I met Christian and he said 'I'll keep an eye on you', so I wouldn't say necessarily I completely got blocked by them [Red Bull seat].

"I don't know what they're feeling inside their heads and hearts, but that's what I can tell you."