Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda must feel like he’s stuck in no man’s land in Formula 1.
Red Bull Racing have been in F1 for 20 years, but stability is not a word you would ever associate with the team.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are about to complete their fourth season as teammates, although the Mexican is clinging onto his seat for dear life after a terrible season by his admission.
Only Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have lasted for more campaigns together at Red Bull and the situation at RB is even more complicated.
Yuki Tsunoda has been ever present at RB since his debut at the beginning of the 2021 campaign.
Since then, he’s been joined by Pierre Gasly, Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and now Liam Lawson.
For good or bad reasons, each of those drivers has been moved on and now Lawson is being linked with a Red Bull promotion.
Unfortunately for his Japanese teammate, despite Helmut Marko linking Tsunoda with Red Bull, he doesn’t appear to be a candidate to race for the senior team.
Journalist Joe Saward was speaking on the Missed Apex Podcast about why the 24-year-old will never be under consideration by Red Bull.
Red Bull have ‘fundamental problem’ with Yuki Tsunoda
Put to Saward that Tsunoda has beaten all of his recent teammates and therefore should be in the conversation for a Red Bull seat, he replied: “There’s a fundamental problem with Tsunoda. Have you not worked it out yet? Okay.
“The fundamental problem with Tsunoda is he’s a Honda driver.
“He’s there because of Honda. He would not be there if it were not for Honda.
“And is he quick? Yes, he’s quick. Can he do The Times crossword? No, he can’t.
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“All I’m saying is this is the reality. The reality is that for whatever reason, and my conclusion is that it’s because he can’t do The Times crossword, but for whatever reason, Tsunoda is not rated sufficiently highly.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, it doesn’t matter. The fans can squeal and shout as much as they like, but it doesn’t change the fact that these are the views that are held.
“And this is what fans don’t understand. You can squeal and shout a lot, but the views still remain. You don’t change views by shouting about them.”
RB must make plans for potential Liam Lawson promotion in 2025
If Tsunoda is stuck at RB for another year and has to watch on as his newest teammate is promoted above him, then he’ll have even more motivation going into next year.
Tsunoda has been touted for a 2025 V-CARB exit with the team’s partnership with Honda coming to an end, but if he puts in strong enough performances, then senior Red Bull staff will want to keep hold of him if there’s still uncertainty around his teammates.
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Isack Hadjar could be promoted into the RB line-up next year should Lawson replace Perez, although it’s hard to know what’s going to happen to the Mexican driver right now.
Tsunoda is now an experienced enough driver to guide someone like Hadjar next year if required.
However, if he’s moved on and Lawson is required within the Red Bull team, suddenly RB would be left in a very tricky situation.
