Tsunoda offers theory behind continual Red Bull snub

Yuki Tsunoda believes "Red Bull itself changed" its policy towards young drivers following the death of Dietrich Mateschitz.

Tsunoda's impressive performances in the junior RB team have so far not been met with the potential of promotion to Red Bull's senior team, although he is testing the RB20 in Abu Dhabi following the season-finale. 

Mateschitz died in 2022, with six young drivers - Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Danill Kvyat,Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon - receiving promotion from what was then Toro Rosso after strong performances.

Tsunoda insists that he "does not know what more I can do" to earn Red Bull promotion alongside Verstappen if the underfire Sergio Perez is replaced, as he explained his Mateschitz theory.

"Please could you interview them and find out, and whatever they say in the interview, even if they say: 'Oh, Yuki is in the mix', I don't know whether that is true or not," he told media including RacingNews365.

"If not, I don't know what more I can do than this, but I'll keep pushing and doing the things I can control.

"With Red Bull, historically, it is pretty natural that one driver from our team gets promoted, it is kind of the natural thing. 

"Maybe something changed, maybe the dynamics changed, maybe Red Bull itself changed after Mr Mateschitz passed away. 

"They still have one driver who got a driver's championship and the team has had success for quite a long time, so what they are doing is not a bad thing, but it doesn't really make much sense for me. 

"I can't find much reason that they are not really talking about me heavily."

Tsunoda's RB team is engaged in a battle with Haas and Alpine for sixth in the constructors', with the team currently in eighth, four points behind Haas and three behind Alpine. 

When asked if getting P6 could be a target that swings his fortunes, Tsunoda added that it would "give a better reason" for him to be promoted.

"I've got used to it, throughout the year especially since Daniel [Ricciardo], it was if like either one of you, you'll go to Red Bull, but unfortunately, this is the situation and the dynamics of how Red Bull works," he said.

"I guess they're facing difficult things in the background that we don't know, but I've just got to force them with my performances.

"If they say: 'P6 is the task that you need to be in the Red Bull seat', then it is pretty difficult as the team championship is combined between the team, not just individual drivers.

"But I'll do as much as I can and if I score P6, that gives a better reason to put me in the Red Bull seat."