Yuki Tsunoda drove for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi in the post-season test and is still a contender to replace Sergio Perez.
Since making his debut in 2021, the Japanese driver has spent four years at RB refining his craft in the midfield and making fewer mistakes.
Tsunoda competed well against Liam Lawson during their eight races as teammates and out-qualified the New Zealander at all eight rounds.
Both drivers are contenders to partner Max Verstappen next season as Sergio Perez suffered a very difficult year at Red Bull.
The Mexican driver didn’t score a win this season, and his last podium was at the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Tsunoda had a good opportunity in Abu Dhabi, but former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe explained that Red Bull may have wanted to keep expectations low.
Red Bull may have wanted to ‘calm down public perception’ with Yuki Tsunoda’s test
Tsunoda had the chance to drive the Red Bull at the Yas Marina Circuit, but Lawson may be a more likely option to take the seat alongside Verstappen.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has never been overly convinced by Tsunoda, who wasn’t significantly better than Tsuonda.
Partnering with Verstappen next year would be a significantly higher challenge to manage over the season as the four-time world champion makes very few errors.
READ MORE: Why RB now think ‘impressive’ Yuki Tsunoda has reached the same limit as Williams star Carlos Sainz
Hinchcliffe explained that the team could easily prevent Tsunoda from setting blistering times if they wanted to keep expectations low.
He said on the Off Track with Hinch and Rossi podcast: “I think this test was to placate Honda a little bit and to show the paddock that they at least gave him a shot to prove that he could do something. My concern is that it didn’t matter. It was already a done deal that Lawson was going in.
“This was all just a little bit of a show. Again, you can’t read it in times very much, but at the same time, his times weren’t awesome. Teams can sabotage that stuff. If only to calm down public perception, you don’t want him going quick, that is a very easy thing to orchestrate from the team side.”
Either Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda may struggle alongside Max Verstappen
Verstappen has set an incredibly high level over the past few seasons and is now fighting for a fifth world championship heading into the 2025 season.
He has been far better than Perez this season, and Verstappen is now much less accident-prone than he was earlier in the Dutchman’s career.
Neither Lawson nor Tsunoda have had experience at the front of the field, which may worry Red Bull, which has a chequered history with second drivers.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has doubts about Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull. The Colombian feels he may have driven too slowly in the test.
Carlos Sainz may have been a better option when he was available earlier this season, but the Spaniard eventually signed for Williams.
