Yuki Tsunoda, currently racing for Red Bull’s second team, AlphaTauri, believes he could do a better job for Red Bull as their struggles to secure the Constructors’ Championship continue to intensify. Tsunoda has been with AlphaTauri since 2021 but has not been widely considered a serious contender to step up to the main Red Bull team, despite what many consider his strongest season in Formula 1 to date in 2024.
Tsunoda had a strong showing in the 2024 season, scoring his joint-best result with a P7 finish in Las Vegas, where he outperformed both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This performance was followed by another solid finish in P9 in the same race weekend, helping to build momentum as the season nears its conclusion. His consistent performances have added fuel to the ongoing debate about Red Bull’s second driver, Sergio Perez, whose struggles with form have sparked speculation that he could be replaced by Tsunoda for the 2025 season.
When asked whether he believes he is doing enough to be considered as an alternative to Perez, Tsunoda seemed confident, saying, “I’m struggling to think of reasons not to put me in the F1 2025 seat.” Tsunoda acknowledged that while Pierre Gasly’s third-place finish earlier in the season was impressive, his own P7 in Las Vegas was a solid result, especially considering the competitive field. “Between McLaren is pretty good I guess and quite close to Max [Verstappen] as well,” Tsunoda added, highlighting his ability to compete at a high level against strong teams.
Tsunoda continued to express his desire to make a strong case for a Red Bull seat by maintaining consistency in his performances in the final two races of the season. “It’s up to them,” Tsunoda said, referring to Red Bull’s decision-makers. “I’ve just got to do whatever I can to… There’s not much reason to point out why they don’t want to put me in the Red Bull.”
Perez, meanwhile, has not secured a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, and despite rumors of his departure from Red Bull, he has remained in the car for the duration of the season. Tsunoda’s growing confidence, paired with Perez’s continued struggles, could see him emerge as a serious contender for the Red Bull seat soon.
