Peter Bayer, CEO of the VISA Cash App RB team, recently spoke about Yuki Tsunoda's future prospects in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. The Japanese driver has repeatedly been called into question about a possible promotion to Red Bull. Promotion linked to various factors, primarily the team's choice of Sergio Perez's future, which is increasingly uncertain considering his recent disappointing performances. In particular, his results have also had a negative impact in the world of Fanta F1, where the Mexican is currently one of the least chosen drivers, failing to bring significant points even to the Fantamanagers. This has fueled speculation about a possible driver change alongside Max Verstappen. Tsunoda e Ricciardo, being linked to Red Bull they were the first to be evaluated. Neither has been taken into consideration at the moment, but according to Bayer this scenario could soon change.
Tsunoda and Red Bull, Bayer doesn't rule anything out
Despite Yuki Tsunoda not being considered for a seat at Red Bull Racing this year, Bayer has confirmed that the Japanese driver is still in the running for a possible future opportunity. Bayer explained that Tsunoda could get a seat at Red Bull if he can maintain a consistent, high-level performance. “Helmut said it himself, in German they say one swallow does not make a summer,” Bayer said. “This means that if Yuki continues to be at this level consistently, he will be considered for a seat at Red Bull Racing.”
The CEO also stressed that Red Bull is in no rush to make decisions. “We are in no hurry – even though everyone thinks we are – because we have all the options in hand,” said Bayer, hinting that another season alongside a competitive driver like Daniel Ricciardo could also be a valid option.
Tsunoda also praised by Mekies
RB team principal Laurent Mekies praised Tsunoda's improvement over the course of the season. Mekies described the Japanese driver's progress in his fourth year in F1 as "phenomenal" and expressed admiration for his ambition to move to Red Bull. “Yuki is a Red Bull driver. He must have the ambition to drive for Red Bull Racing. If he doesn't have it, he's wrong,” Mekies said, highlighting the importance of his motivation and growth.
Although Tsunoda did not land a seat at Red Bull Racing this year, Bayer has made it clear that his future opportunities remain alive. With a solid season and consistent performances, Tsunoda could emerge as a viable candidate for a Red Bull seat. His performances at Fantamanager and the accolades received from the RB team indicate that the Japanese driver is well positioned to seize any opportunities that may arise in the coming years.
Tsunoda's situation at Fanta F1
In the context of Fanta F1, Yuki Tsunoda is proving to be a solid option. At the moment, Tsunoda is 13th in the Fantamanager rankings with an average points of +2.57, a better performance than that of his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo. This figure reflects Tsunoda's growing consistency, which could work in his favor in the race for a Red Bull seat.
