Red Bull chose Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda to fill the vacant seat left by Sergio Pérez for 2025 (and beyond). However, Racing Bull’s sporting director Alan Permane believes Tsunoda can still target a Red Bull seat in the upcoming Formula One season.
Yuki Tsunoda joined Red Bull’s junior team ‘Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ back in 2021. At the time, it was in its second year of being called ‘AlphaTauri’. He joined after a successful rookie Formula 2 campaign the previous year, finishing third in the drivers’ standings. Only being beaten by champion Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott.
Initial thoughts
After arriving at RB from Alpine after the 2023 season, Permane admits he had preconceptions of Tsunoda before joining the Italian-based outfit. But he has been happily surprised after working with the Japanese driver.
“I must admit, I was guilty of that coming in. I don’t know if he’s taken a step up this year because I don’t have anything to compare against,”
“Of course, there are inconsistencies he needs to sharpen up, plenty of areas he needs to polish.“
Red Bull potential
Permane certainly believes the driver from Sagamihara has the potential for a future Red Bull move. He states it is the primary purpose of RB to promote talented, young drivers such as Tsunoda to Red Bull.
Tsunoda is one of the numerous talented drivers to come through Red Bull’s junior pathway. Other talents being four-time drivers’ champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. As well as current F1 drivers Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and even 2025 Alpine driver Jack Doohan.
He further explains Tsunoda is “right in spotting that when things aren’t going well he just needs to come in and download.”. Highlighting the ability the number 22 driver possesses, but also recognising what he needs to work on in order to land a seat at Red Bull’s top-team in the future.
“Nothing would make me happier than to get him to a level where he can move to the top team, into Red Bull.”
“One of the reasons for this team – and it’s not the only reason anymore – is to develop talent. If we can turn him into a race winner, fantastic.”
“But he’s right in spotting that when things aren’t going well he just needs to come in and download.”
Area for development
RB’s sporting director states the main focus of Tsunoda is to reform his communication over the radio. Permane believes this is the main area of improvement Yuki Tsunoda needs to work on in order to certify his chance at securing a Red Bull seat in the forthcoming F1 season.
He also adds that “One of the things we did was playback the Brazil race, a massively intense situation, and Max and his engineer are just like they’re having a cup of coffee in the afternoon together”. Clarifying that a more relaxed view towards radio communication and feedback during sessions is what will secure Tsunoda’s claim for a seat at Red Bull’s premier team in the future.
“He knows it and he’s working hard on that.”
“You rarely hear Lando [Norris] getting frustrated, and that’s the level you need to get to.”
“That’s the benchmark and all that information is out there for these guys to work on, and that’s one of the areas we’re working on with him. “
“When he gets frustrated he then gets frustrated at himself for getting frustrated,”
