Red Bull ‘aren’t signing’ £12m-a-year driver to replace Yuki Tsunoda if he leaves after the 2025 F1 season

Red Bull Racing will hope that they only have one driver decision to make at the end of this season.

Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull after just two races this year.

In his fifth season in Formula 1, Tsunoda has finally achieved his dream of racing for Red Bull, although he hasn’t had the easiest start.

He’s only scored two points in his first three races, while teammate Max Verstappen already has a victory under his belt in 2025.

Verstappen’s future is also being questioned, although his current contract runs until the end of 2028.

Tsunoda went into this season at Racing Bulls knowing he was once again entering the final year of a Formula 1 contract.

That hasn’t changed since his promotion but Red Bull may have already ruled out one driver to take his place next year.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Red Bull ‘aren’t signing’ George Russell to replace Yuki Tsunoda next season

Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, journalists Edd Straw, Ben Anderson and Glenn Freeman were discussing the difficult situation Mercedes driver George Russell finds himself in.

Russell’s £12m-a-year contract runs out at the end of the season, and Toto Wolff isn’t rushing into offering him a new contract with Verstappen potentially available to Mercedes if he decides to quit Red Bull.

Straw explained, “In many ways, it’s the definition of a good position to be in for Wolff, isn’t it?

“Like you say, Russell will be exploring opportunities elsewhere, drivers in his position have to do that and his management will be asking around.

“But if he’s going to go to Total Wolff and say, well, if you don’t sign me up to a deal now, I’m going to go and sign for Alpine.

“If you’re a Toto Wolff, you’re going to go, oh no, you’re going to sign for Alpine. It’s not going to have that leverage because McLaren’s full, Ferrari is full. Red Bull’s only an option if Max goes.

Anderson commented, “Unless they decide not to stick with Tsunoda and randomly pair the two together.”

Freeman then suggested, “Red Bull aren’t signing Russell to be Verstappen’s teammate.”

Straw continued, “Exactly, so there’s not a top alternative for Russell to be in.

“So, it’s a strange scenario to be in and if you flip it around, it’s difficult for Russell because he needs to know there’s alternatives, doesn’t he?

“I think he will know no matter how much he lobbies for it or pushes Toto Wolff to sign a new deal with him, it’s not going to happen, is it?

“Until Wolff knows for sure he can’t get Verstappen or he does get Verstappen and then says to George, well, sorry, we’ve got to take this upgrade.”

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

Yuki Tsunoda faces limited options if Red Bull make 2026 driver change

Russell is having the strongest season of his career and would be incredibly unfortunate if Verstappen’s sudden availability saw him miss out on a top race seat next season.

However, for Tsunoda, the situation is far more uncertain.

Isack Hadjar has emerged as Red Bull’s best option should they need a new driver in 2026.

If Tsunoda doesn’t do enough to remain at Red Bull, there are very few teams who would have an open seat for him.

Jack Doohan’s Alpine future is far from certain, and Tsunoda could be reunited with Pierre Gasly if the team overlooked their roster of reserve drivers for someone more experienced.

Cadillac need two drivers and Tsunoda once again seems like a sensible experienced option if they overlook drivers like Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that every option available to Tsunoda looks like a significant downgrade on Red Bull.