Robert Doornbos fears 92-race driver’s F1 career ‘is over’ if snubbed for surprise move

Eight of the 10 Formula 1 teams changed their driver line-ups for the 2025 season yet further moves might already be looming just two Grands Prix into the new campaign.

Only McLaren and Aston Martin retained their line-ups which contested the 2024 season for 2025. Yet not all of their rivals have benefitted from hiring new faces over the first rounds of the term in Australia and China. F1 will also now boast an 11th team in Cadillac next season.

Question marks even appeared ahead of the season-opener that Alpine could replace rookie Jack Doohan after the Australian Grand Prix. He has so far survived at Enstone but continues to have pressure from Franco Colapinto, who is even being linked with a transfer to Red Bull.

Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 career ‘is over’ unless he replaces Liam Lawson at Red Bull

Colapinto is an option for Red Bull should the team from Milton Keynes decide to move Liam Lawson out of his seat after just two Grands Prix. The Kiwi has struggled since moving up to partner Max Verstappen and might now return to Racing Bulls if Yuki Tsunoda gets the drive.

It would be surprising even for Red Bull to replace Lawson after only two Grands Prix for the team, in which he crashed out in Australia and came just 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix. Yet belief is growing that Tsunoda will replace Lawson at Red Bull from the Japanese Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Moving up from Racing Bulls on home soil would be a baptism of fire for Tsunoda but it is an opportunity Robert Doornbos believes is crucial to the 24-year-old’s future in Formula 1. The ex-Red Bull F1 driver fears Tsunoda’s time on the grid will be over if Red Bull snub him again.

“How long do you have to drive in the junior team before you get a chance next to Max? It is definitely time to move him up,” Doornbos told Motorsport.com.

“Honda has washed its hands of him. So, if he cannot find a seat on his own with his new management, his career in Formula 1 is over.

“For him, an interim transfer to Red Bull could be a win-win situation because beating a driver at Racing Bulls who is in his first season will not be enough for Yuki to get a seat somewhere else.”

Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 career hinges on Red Bull promotion after Honda distanced itself

Honda had backed Tsunoda since 2016, and his ties to the Japanese automotive giants were key to joining Racing Bulls for his F1 debut whilst the team were still AlphaTauri in 2021. Yet Honda recently distanced itself from Tsunoda ahead of switching to Aston Martin next year.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull Racing F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Losing Honda’s support looked likely to leave Tsunoda in an awkward position after Red Bull decided to promote Lawson over the Kanagawa native to replace Sergio Perez. Yet he might now earn a lifeline with Red Bull considering Tsunoda to replace Lawson just two races later.

Questions would persist over where Tsunoda’s future in Formula 1 lies if Red Bull do not think he is good enough to help Verstappen with the 24-year-old out of contract with Racing Bulls after the 2025 season. But his 93rd Grand Prix entry may now come with Red Bull at Suzuka.