'Red Bull sees Tsunoda as a serious option alongside Verstappen'
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- Nicole Mulder
According to RB CEO Peter Bayer, Yuki Tsunoda is considered a serious option by Red Bull Racing. For now, Sergio Perez retains his Formula 1 seat alongside Max Verstappen, but if Tsunoda continues to perform strongly, Bayer says he definitely has a chance of getting a seat with the Austrian team.
In June, it was announced that Tsunoda had extended his contract with the Visa Cash App RB F1 team. Perez was also committed for another year. However, the Mexican's performance has been underwhelming of late and so the debate once again arose as to whether he was the best choice for the seat next to Verstappen.
Bayer: 'Tsunoda serious option for Red Bull'
According to Bayer, Tsunoda is a serious option for Red Bull if he continues to perform as he currently does. "Helmut Marko said it himself: one swallow does not make a summer. That means that if Yuki continues to race consistently at this level, he will be eligible for a seat at Red Bull Racing," he is quoted by Motorsport.com.
If that means the Japanese will need another season alongside an - equally strong performing - Daniel Ricciardo, Bayer says that is also an option. But it could also be the case that Tsunoda is ready for the switch sooner. That Tsunoda himself is convinced of this was clear from a recent response to a question from GPblog.
This article has been written in collaboration with Ben Stevens.