Yuki Tsunoda handed Red Bull praise as F1 seat decision looms

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has issued praise to Yuki Tsunoda as the Japanese driver awaits news on his F1 future.

Tsunoda joined Red Bull early in the year, stepping up in place of Liam Lawson, who struggled at the opening two rounds.

However, Tsunoda has also struggled to extract pace from the car alongside Max Verstappen, scoring points at just six of the 18 grands prix he has entered with the Milton Keynes-based squad.

Red Bull is currently evaluating its driver line-ups for next year at the senior squad and the sister Racing Bulls outfit.

Mekies praised Tsunoda for the speed on display last time out in Mexico City, insisting his 11th place finish did not reflect his true pace.

“Yuki had his best weekend in a long time,” Mekies told media including RacingNews365. “We have said that a few times, but it is true.

“He was very, very close in qualifying to Max, I think it was two tenths in Q2. 

“[The race], the first stint was very, very strong as well – two tenths, three tenths from Max, on the same very long first stint on the medium.

“Then after, fair enough, we left him out a bit longer because it was an advantage for us to do that, and we had a slightly long pit stop. 

“We killed a few points that he would have scored on merit.”

Isack Hadjar is being heavily linked with a promotion to Red Bull next year, while F2 rookie Arvid Lindblad is a leading contender for a Racing Bulls drive.

Should that materialise, it would leave either Tsunoda or Lawson without a seat. 

Mekies insisted the team is in no rush to come to a decision.

“And of course, it's one of the reasons why we want to take a bit more time before we make a decision on the drivers,” he added.

“Yuki is making steps forward, the other kids are making steps forward as well, so we have no reason to rush the decision. We will take a bit more time.”