The 2025 grid, despite the many entanglements of the market, is slowly starting to take shape. The renewal finally arrives for Yuki Tsunoda on the eve of qualifying in Canada. The Japanese will remain with the Visa Cash App RB team for next season, confirming a starting place in the Red Bull satellite team.
In the third season, Tsunoda convinces
Tsunoda's name continues to be more and more interesting year after year, so much so that he was even brought up for a move to Red Bull, in place of Perez. Despite not giving him this opportunity, the Austrian team preferred to keep him close, in Racing Bulls. However, Yuki was not only linked to Red Bull, but also to Audi. The German team, which will arrive in Formula 1 in 2026, is in fact looking for a second driver to join Nico Hulkenberg. Tsunoda has an interesting profile, both for the experience now gained and for the sponsors, however Audi's objective has always been one, Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is in fact the driver on which the driver market revolves.
Yuki Tsunoda's arrival in Visa Cash App RB was mainly linked to the partnership with Honda. However, this agreement will end in 2025, so the team has decided to reconfirm it for a single season. It is not yet clear who Yuki's partner will be. There is talk of Liam Lawson, to the detriment of Daniel Ricciardo who would see his last chance to remain in Formula 1 disappear. Probably this choice, like the one on Yuki, will also be influenced by Helmut Marko, the super Red Bull consultant.
The VCARB statement and Yuki Tsunoda's words on the renewal
With a press release Racing Bulls has officialized Yuki Tsunoda's stay. Visa Cash App RB is pleased to announce that it has exercised its option on the agreement with Yuki Tsunoda, who will continue to race for the team in 2025.
These instead Yuki Tsunoda's words on the renewal. “I am very happy to remain with Visa Cash App RB and it is a great feeling to have my future mapped out already at this stage of the season. For this, I want to thank all the collaborators at Red Bull and Honda who have played a really important role in my career and will continue to do so. The team has a big development project ahead of them and I'm excited to be part of it. It's nice to know that everyone appreciates the hard work I've put in and that the team believes I can help them move up the grid. We have already made clear progress this season and this motivates me to always give my best and that is what I will continue to do with VCARB. For the moment, I'm focusing on the remaining races of this season, with the aim of bringing home as many points as possible, always growing with the team, laying the foundations to do even better next year!”
The words of Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer
“I have observed Yuki's progress in Formula 1 with interest even before my return to Faenza and it has been impressive, year after year,” he commented Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Visa Cash App RB. “The step forward he has made this year is simply phenomenal and continues to amaze us all, race after race. There is no doubt about his natural speed, to which he has now added a much more mature approach: this combination makes him a very fast and consistent athlete, as well as a great team man. We continue to understand better what he needs from us and vice versa, so we are progressing together. We share the same ambitions, so there are many good reasons to continue our journey together. He still has a lot to give!
Peter Bayer, CEO of Visa Cash App RB, he instead declared: “Yuki is an athlete of the Red Bull and Honda Junior Driver programs and it is thanks to the good work from everyone that he has been able to reach his current performance level. As the saying goes, 'you don't change a winning team', so we are pleased to confirm Yuki as part of our future. It is a valuable asset both on and off the track, as its engaging nature has made it very popular with fans around the world. We are thrilled that he is staying with us."
