Tsunoda would be ‘surprised’ if Red Bull did not consider new F1 ‘option’
Yuki Tsunoda has said he would be “surprised” if Franco Colapinto
is not under consideration from Red Bull for a race seat next
season. The Argentine driver has taken F1 by storm since replacing
Logan Sargeant at Williams from the Italian Grand Prix onwards.
Having claimed five points across his first six grand prix, the
21-year-old has already beaten the American’s return five-fold from
30 fewer starts. It has led to considerable chatter surrounding
where he will continue his F1 career. His current seat belongs to
Carlos Sainz in the long term and sentiment throughout the paddock
is that he has done enough to warrant a full-time drive. James
Vowles tried and failed to secure him a seat at Stake, with Gabriel
Bortoleto ultimately the driver chosen to replace Valtteri Bottas
and Zhou Guanyu. The FIA F3 drivers’ champion and F2 points leader
will partner Nico Hulkenberg next year. The sole remaining door
left open to Colapinto is only slightly ajar. RB has yet to
finalise its driver line-up for 2025, but Liam Lawson is in the
prime position to partner Tsunoda. However, with the fluid contract
situation between the two Red Bull squads, there could also still
be changes at the main team. Sergio Perez’s staying power is
quickly diminishing, despite being contracted for next season. If
he is jettisoned out, that would likely pave the way for either of
RB’s current drivers to partner Max Verstappen. If that does come
to pass, Colapinto would be well-positioned to beat out current Red
Bull reserve driver Isack Hadjar for the vacated seat. To Tsunoda,
who currently looks the more likely driver to stay with RB in that
eventuality, it would not come as a shock. “He’s definitely doing a
good job,” the 24-year-old told media including RacingNews365 when
asked about rumours linking Colapinto to Red Bull and RB. “To be
honest, I don’t know much about those things and I didn’t see much,
[but] if it’s not an option, I’ll be surprised. “He’s doing well
and he doesn’t have a seat so far for next season… so yeah, I
think so.”
is not under consideration from Red Bull for a race seat next
season. The Argentine driver has taken F1 by storm since replacing
Logan Sargeant at Williams from the Italian Grand Prix onwards.
Having claimed five points across his first six grand prix, the
21-year-old has already beaten the American’s return five-fold from
30 fewer starts. It has led to considerable chatter surrounding
where he will continue his F1 career. His current seat belongs to
Carlos Sainz in the long term and sentiment throughout the paddock
is that he has done enough to warrant a full-time drive. James
Vowles tried and failed to secure him a seat at Stake, with Gabriel
Bortoleto ultimately the driver chosen to replace Valtteri Bottas
and Zhou Guanyu. The FIA F3 drivers’ champion and F2 points leader
will partner Nico Hulkenberg next year. The sole remaining door
left open to Colapinto is only slightly ajar. RB has yet to
finalise its driver line-up for 2025, but Liam Lawson is in the
prime position to partner Tsunoda. However, with the fluid contract
situation between the two Red Bull squads, there could also still
be changes at the main team. Sergio Perez’s staying power is
quickly diminishing, despite being contracted for next season. If
he is jettisoned out, that would likely pave the way for either of
RB’s current drivers to partner Max Verstappen. If that does come
to pass, Colapinto would be well-positioned to beat out current Red
Bull reserve driver Isack Hadjar for the vacated seat. To Tsunoda,
who currently looks the more likely driver to stay with RB in that
eventuality, it would not come as a shock. “He’s definitely doing a
good job,” the 24-year-old told media including RacingNews365 when
asked about rumours linking Colapinto to Red Bull and RB. “To be
honest, I don’t know much about those things and I didn’t see much,
[but] if it’s not an option, I’ll be surprised. “He’s doing well
and he doesn’t have a seat so far for next season… so yeah, I
think so.”
Samuel Coop
Go to seatrade maritime