Tsunoda's F1 career to end after the season? Here is our verdict!
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- Ludo van Denderen
Jacques Villeneuve believes Yuki Tsunoda will began his final season in Formula 1. According to the Canadian, the Japanese will leave anyway after his fifth season with Racing Bulls, after which no team will pick him up for 2026. A fair comment from Villeneuve or not? Here is our verdict.
Much depends on Red Bull Racing
In an interview with an online gambling site this week, Villeneuve said, "[Yuki] Tsunoda will be the first driver to leave the grid. He’s only there because of Honda. At some point this will stop. And the writing is quite clear that this is his last season with the Red Bull family anyway. And I don't see any team wanting him unless there's a big Honda push," the former Formula One world champion argued.
A bold statement from Villeneuve, who is known for not mincing his words. But does he have a point? First of all, much will depend on how well Liam Lawson performs at Red Bull Racing. As is well known, Red Bull Racing preferred the New Zealander to Tsunoda as Max Verstappen's teammate - much to the Japanese's displeasure, by the way. But if Lawson does not perform as Red Bull would hope, a switch (again) cannot be ruled out by any means. In that case, Tsunoda could be promoted to Red Bull Racing.
If Lawson could remain as Verstappen's teammate then - as Villeneuve expects - it is hard to imagine Racing Bulls letting Tsunoda stay on for a sixth season. The aim of the Faenza-based junior team has always been to have talents ready for Red Bull Racing, and in Tsunoda's case that is surely not going to happen then. Moreover, with Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull have a top talent in the Junior Team; as the Briton is someone who is expected to make the switch to Racing Bulls in 2026.
Honda: An obstacle for Tsunoda?
If there is no longer a place for Tsunoda within the Red Bull family - and that could turn out of be more than possible - the Japanese will have to look elsewhere. The fact that he is a protégé of Honda could possibly be a disadvantage for him. The Japanese manufacturer will be Aston Martin's engine supplier from 2026, where there is unlikely to be a seat available for Tsunoda. And should a spot become available, the Silverstone-based team would like to bet on the arrival of Max Verstappen.
Tsunoda is unlikely to escape cutting ties with Honda if he wants to extend his career in Formula 1 after 2025. Once he has done so, there are undoubtedly going to be teams interested in his services. After all, Tsunoda has decent pace and Red Bull has kept him in the team for a long time for good reason. For Cadillac, for example, he would be the ideal experienced driver, with more of a future than an a driver into their 30s, like Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Perez.
Undoubtedly, there are also going to be teams that prove to be unhappy with their 2025 driver line-up, and will look at possible improvements. In that case, a free agent Tsunoda will be high on the wish list of any midfield team.
There is a chance that Tsunoda could leave F1, but the possibility of that happening is not to high. However, there is a real chance that he will part ways with the Red Bull family after the end of the upcoming season.
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