Yuki Tsunoda is rumored to be Red Bull’s 2025 reserve driver, in addition to his confirmed seat at Visa Cash App Red Bull.
Both Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were contenders to fill Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull. Ultimately, Lawson was given the seat, meaning Tsunoda will not be driving as Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025.
However, this will be Tsunoda’s fifth season with Visa Cash App Red Bull, where he will be racing alongside F1 rookie Isack Hadjar.
Tsunoda’s F1 beginnings
In 2021, Tsunoda got his start in F1, racing for Alpha Tauri (now VCARB) alongside Pierre Gasly. His best finish was sixth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and he finished 14th in the World Drivers’ Championship.
The 2024 season was a highlight
Tsunoda describes his 2024 season as “one of my best”, with three seventh place finishes in Australia, Miami, and Brazil, 30 total points earned, and a 12th place finish in the World Drivers’ Championship—his highest WDC finish to date.
Racing with both Daniel Riccardo and Lawson, Tsunoda helped VCARB finish 8th in the World Constructors’ Championship, with a total of 46 points.
Reserve Driver Responsibilities
Should something happen causing Verstappen or Lawson to be out during a race weekend, such as an injury or banning, the reserve driver will fill the seat.
If Tsunoda does find himself fulfilling reserve driver responsibilities for Red Bull, and therefore out of his VCARB seat for however long, former French F4 Champion Ayumu Iwasa will drive alongside Hadjar. Iwasa is 22 years old, has raced in F2 and Super Formula, and has been a Red Bull Junior Team member since 2021.
Tsunoda and other officials at Red Bull Racing have yet to speak on the matter.
Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool
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