Tsunoda says he will keep “destroying” team-mates in hope for Red Bull seat

Yuki Tsunoda has vowed to keep “destroying” every team-mate he has had in a bid to show Red Bull that he finally deserves a Formula 1 seat there.

With Sergio Perez’s future at the main Red Bull squad in doubt beyond this year, the energy drinks company is evaluating what to do about the line-ups across both its main outfit and sister competitor RB.

But while Tsunoda is the most experienced option in its camp, the indications are that rookie Liam Lawson could be favourite for promotion after impressing since returning to a full-time cockpit at the United States GP last month.

Tsunoda, who is set for his first official run in a Red Bull in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, says he does not understand what more he needs to do to get the promotion. 

“I always say that I definitely deserve that seat,” he said. “I can’t say more than that. It’s up to them.”

While Tsunoda spoke out earlier in the year about not being entrusted with a Red Bull cockpit, he thinks his best hope of earning a drive there is simply to keep doing what he is doing in the car.

“There was a time that I started getting impatient, probably just before the summer break,” added Tsunoda, who made his F1 debut in 2021.

“But this thing, I can’t control. It’s just part of the life. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. In fact, I’m the one who’s racing still now. Whenever they keep sending their driver to me to beat me, I just keep destroying them. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

While Lawson has grabbed the headlines at RB since his F1 return, which has included two points-scoring finishes and some elbows-out moments on track with Fernando Alonso and Perez, Tsunoda’s recent weekends have been clouded by incidents – like his crashes in Mexico qualifying and the race.

But he thinks it is wrong to suggest that he has been struggling with the pressure as was suggested by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

“It’s just the usual story in that team, to be honest, or in the Red Bull family,” Tsunoda said. “Yeah, Mexico wasn’t ideal, but at the same time qualifying was definitely my bad for sure and I definitely didn’t help myself.

“But in the race, it was a different story. I had a good start, and if I’m able to make that call, I probably was P7 after Turn 1 or even P6.

“They understand as well, those sides. But it’s a usual story. It’s like part of the smaller sports, Formula 1, especially our team, and it is what it is. I don’t really think about it anymore.”

While Tsunoda has the backing of current Red Bull engine partner Honda, he knows that ultimately any call to promote him is not down to the Japanese manufacturer.

“I don’t know the relationship specifically between Red Bull and Honda, but Honda has been helping me since when I was young,” he said.

“Currently, Honda and Red Bull are working together. So I’m sure they’re pushing, but it’s just the Red Bull thing that for whatever reason, it’s not working.

“I don’t know. I just stopped thinking about that and it’s just a pointless thing to think about.”