The Most Disappointed on the Grid
If there were an award for “most disappointed of the year” among Formula 1 drivers, it would undoubtedly go to Yuki Tsunoda, who had hoped to finally secure the coveted Red Bull seat.
The decision to part ways with Sergio Perez, announced in mid-December, seemed to open the door for the Japanese driver. However, Tsunoda found himself up against an unexpected rival: Liam Lawson, with whom he shared the final six races of 2024 at Racing Bulls.
Red Bull ultimately chose Lawson, despite Yuki Tsunoda outperforming him numerically with a decisive 6-0 in qualifying, 3-1 in races, and 8-4 in points scored. How, then, can the team’s decision under Christian Horner’s leadership be explained? Liam Lawson was favored for his mental strength and potential, while Yuki Tsunoda’s emotionality and inconsistency worked against him.
Clipped Wings
While Helmut Marko has not ruled out a potential reconsideration during the season, urging Yuki Tsunoda to stay resilient, Christian Horner hinted at an eventual departure for the Japanese driver after five years with the junior team and missing out on promotion for the next championship.
Japanese outlet *Auto Sport Web* revealed an even more bitter detail for Yuki Tsunoda in light of the missed opportunity: “In the past two years, Yuki had begun exploring options elsewhere, aware of his slim chances of promotion to Red Bull. It’s said that Alpine, Sauber-Audi, and Haas engaged with his management in early 2024, offering him long-term contracts. However, Red Bull refused to release him, deciding in June to confirm him for Racing Bulls in 2025.”
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