Yuki Tsunoda has been named as the official Red Bull reserve driver for the upcoming 2025 F1 season, RacingNews365 can confirm. The Japanese driver was a contender for promotion to the senior team to replace Sergio Perez for 2025, but the team ultimately opted to give the nod to Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson. Lawson will now partner Max Verstappen for 2025, with Tsunoda consigned to a fifth season at the junior team, but he could yet race for Red Bull this coming season. He has been confirmed as the official Red Bull reserve driver, meaning if Verstappen or Lawson are banned for a race or are injured, Tsunoda will step in and race for the team. Heading into the new season, Verstappen finds himself on eight penalty points, with his next set to be removed following June's Austrian GP, meaning he must navigate 11 rounds just four points away from a race ban. Should Tsunoda be called up to Red Bull, or indeed, he or new Racing Bulls team-mate Isack Hadjar be banned or injured, the team will then call upon Ayumu Iwasa as its reserve driver. Iwasa has the requisite number of 40 super-licence points through a combination of FIA F2 and Super Formula points, and drove for Racing Bulls in FP1 at the 2024 Japanese and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, and in post-season testing.
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