Tsunoda gets Red Bull test, but is surprised that it's only happening now

Tsunoda is having a solid season at Visa Cash App RB. The Japanese driver was almost always stronger than Daniel Ricciardo and scored nearly twice as many points as the Australian. He has now been replaced by Liam Lawson. Tsunoda will be keen to beat the New Zealander, especially if he wants any chance of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing. Perez is contracted to race alongside Max Verstappen in 2025, but there is doubt about his future due to his performances.

With a test in a Red Bull, Tsunoda can show how good he really is. He was asked if progress has been made in securing test kilometres. "I think things will happen. But it's a Red Bull Racing thing, you never know until that day," Tsunoda said in Mexico.

Tsunoda is very keen for it to happen, though. "It's a very good opportunity. At least, finally, I can show a bit of my driving, and the engineers can see how I'm driving, and I think it's very important. Finally they give the chance," he added.

Red Bull contacted Tsunoda

Tsunoda has "heard directly from Red Bull" that they are going to give him the chance, yet he is still cautious. In any case, the VCARB driver thanks Honda - which insisted on a test for Tsunoda - for their efforts. "I appreciate that. Obviously, I was pushing since the first race as well, even since last year. I can show a result that I've stepped up compared to last year. Honda pushed as well."

Still, he is somewhat surprised that he is only now getting a chance at Red Bull. Tsunoda made his debut in 2021 with the same team who were then known as AlphaTauri. "If you asked that in the second year or third year, I'll be very surprised. But I'm more used to how difficult it is to get even a single day of testing. I've outperformed most of my teammates in previous years. Things going on around the background that I didn't know. At the same time, I'm probably not really able to improve as much as they wanted at the level, especially for radio communications. They're kind of mixed," Tsunoda concluded.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton