An Early Vacation for Max Verstappen
This decision potentially grants Max Verstappen a few additional days of rest as the season wraps up. Rather than piloting the RB20 during the December 10th Pirelli tire test on the Abu Dhabi circuit—set for two days after the F1 season finale—the Dutchman is expected to begin his vacation a bit sooner. While not yet official, Horner’s remarks strongly suggest Max Verstappen will skip this post-season session, marking a change from previous years.
Yuki Tsunoda Steps In
Speaking during Friday’s press conference at the Mexican Grand Prix, Christian Horner confidently stated that Yuki Tsunoda would be driving in Max Verstappen’s place for this test. “Yuki is a member of our Junior Team,” Christian Horner explained, “and we’ve discussed this with Honda. This year, we had him take part in the hill climb at Goodwood in a Red Bull, which was an unexpected opportunity in many ways. He became the first driver to pilot a Formula 1 car with an open-face helmet and goggles. Now he’ll get a chance to drive again during the test following the season’s conclusion.”
Red Bull’s Testing Plans for 2025
Yuki Tsunoda drove the Red Bull RB18 that belonged to Checo Perez at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, sporting vintage goggles and a helmet similar to those he wore when he drove the iconic Honda RA272 from 1965. Unlike some of his fellow drivers, Yuki Tsunoda’s hands-on experience with the “parent team” has been relatively limited. This, combined with Honda’s influence, has paved the way for Yuki Tsunoda to have a proper test drive at year-end. “This plan has been in place for some time,” Christian Horner concluded, “and it’ll be valuable to give him some laps, see how he performs in a Red Bull, and allow him to collaborate with our engineers.” This test session may well be a critical step in his bid for a seat in 2025.
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