Visa Cash App RB has used up its option to secure the services of Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 F1 season.
Having joined Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri) in 2021 after a strong F2 season, Tsunoda will start his fifth season with the sister team in 2025 after the Faenza-based outfit took up its option to keep him in their fold for another year.
Tsunoda lost a chance to step up to be a Red Bull driver after they retained Sergio Perez. He wished to remain with Visa Cash App RB in 2025 despite interest from other F1 teams, especially with Honda leaving them to be Aston Martin partner from 2026 onward.
In the history of the sister Red Bull team, only Pierre Gasly has had a longer stay with Tsunoda following on his footsteps. With the Japanese now settled and secured, it leaves the second seat a straight fight between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson.
“I’m very happy to be staying with Visa Cash App RB and it’s a good feeling to have my future decided so early in the year,” said Tsunoda. “For that, I want to thank everyone at Red Bull and Honda who have played such an important role in my career and will continue to do so.
“The team has a big development project ahead and I’m excited to be part of it. It’s great to know that everyone appreciates all the hard work I have put in and that the team believes I can help it move further up the grid. We have already made clear progress this season and that really motivates me to always give of my best and that’s what I’ll continue to do with VCARB.
“For the moment, I’m concentrating on the remaining races this season, with the aim of bringing home as many points as possible, always growing with the team, laying the groundwork to do even better next year!”
Team boss Laurent Mekies noted: “I watched Yuki’s progress in Formula 1 with interest even before I returned to Faenza and it’s been impressive, year after year. The step up he has made this year is simply phenomenal, and he keeps surprising us all, race after race. There’s no doubting his natural speed to which he has now added a much more mature approach and this combination makes him a very quick and consistent performer, and a great team player.
“We continue to get a better understanding of what he needs from us and vice versa, so we are progressing together, Yuki as a driver and the team, as Visa Cash App RB. We share the same ambitions, so there are several good reasons to continue our journey together. He still has a lot to give!”
And finally, Peter Bayer added: “Yuki is a graduate of both the Red Bull and Honda Junior Driver programmes and it’s thanks to a good job from all parties that he’s been able to reach his current level of performance.
“As the saying goes, ‘never change a winning team’, so we are delighted to confirm Yuki as part of our future. He is a valuable asset on and off the race track, as his engaging nature has made him very popular with fans around the world. We are excited that he is staying with us.”
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on losing out to Sergio Perez
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on his situation
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