Speculation continues regarding Sergio Perez’s job security ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
And now, one of Red Bull’s potential drivers has announced his intention to take part.
Yuki Tsunoda, who recently signed a contract extension with the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, has insisted on taking the seat next to Max Verstappen if any changes are made at Red Bull.
“Yeah, if we weren’t ready we wouldn’t have been able to announce the next season of VCARB at least.” Mr. Kakuta said: “Compared to the last three years, I feel like I’m more prepared to compete against the top teams, the higher-ranked teams, Max and the like,” he told media on Thursday.
Asked directly if he felt ready for a Red Bull seat, Tsunoda simply replied, “Yes.”
Tsunoda was also asked about speculation that Liam Lawson could make the jump from Red Bull and VCARB reserve driver to the sport’s most coveted driver’s slot and slip into Perez’s seat, and Tsunoda admitted that, at least in his opinion, it was “weird”.
“It would be weird if they chose Liam, but at least for me… I don’t think so,” Tsunoda said. “Obviously, Liam did a really good job when he was driving for the team, but I think he did more than that. We’ll see how it goes. At the end of the day, they know how to manage drivers.”
Lawson took over the role at AlphaTauri (now VCARB) when the team fired Nyck de Vries ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix last season and replaced him with Daniel Ricciardo. With Ricciardo injured at the Dutch Grand Prix, it was Lawson’s turn and he raced in five races for the team.
During that period, Lawson scored one point for AlphaTauri, by leading them to ninth place at the Singapore Grand Prix. Those two points were the only points the team, including Tsunoda, managed during Lawson’s five-race tenure.
Tsunoda understands that ultimately the decision lies with the team and there are no signs that Red Bull are in any rush to do anything.
“But ultimately it’s their decision and it’s not something I can control, so I’m just focusing on what to do in the next two races,” Tsunoda said.
“Checo will announce it two races before, or even one race before, and Checo could perform really well, and if the driver is performing well there’s no reason to change the driver,” the VCARB driver added. “In the end, what Checo is doing is definitely good. I don’t want to put pressure on him, and that’s definitely fair. I myself want him to focus on what he’s doing. We haven’t had any serious discussions or conversations yet.”
Tsunoda has won 20 of VCARB’s 31 points this season, beating teammate Ricciardo 20 to 11. Ricciardo’s best Grand Prix finish this year was eighth at the Canadian Grand Prix (and fourth in the F1 sprint race at Miami), but Tsunoda has two seventh-place finishes this season, in Australia and Miami.
