Button identifies Verstappen's next teammate: 'He's getting the results'

Jenson Button believes that Yuki Tsunoda is the perfect driver to fill the second Red Bull seat for 2025. Red Bull's advisor Helmut Marko stated that Red Bull will evaluate and decide after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Sergio Perez has had a very poor season. 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button wants to see VCARB driver Yuki Tsuonda promoted to the senior Red Bull team.

Sergio Perez - unlike F1 world champion Verstappen - is experiencing a poor season. The Mexican has not taken a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix, Red Bull has been overtaken by McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors' standings, and he has scored just seven points in the past five races. Red Bull's juniors at Visa Cash App RB - Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda - are eager to take over the seat at the top team.

Button picks ideal teammate for Verstappen

According to the Brit, the Japanese driver deserves the chance after years of driving for Red Bull's sister team. Can Tsunoda cope with the pressures of Red Bull? "Personally, I think yes," the Briton told Sky Sports. "They keep throwing teammates at him, and he keeps kicking them away. He's a very different Yuki from last year. He's not as fiery as he was, and he's getting the results," Button added. The Japanese driver has tallied up 30 points for his team this season.

Button: 'I'm not sure I'd want the seat!'

Of course, it's a make-or-break driving alongside Verstappen, as Button states. "I think he's the plug-and-play for that position. If it was me, I'm not sure I would want to step in the Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, that's the toughest drive in the pit lane, but if he's up for it, great," the Brit added. Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly were dropped from Red Bull after they were outperformed by Max Verstappen.

Lawson has also been widely mentioned as a suitable successor to Perez at Red Bull, but according to Button, it is still too soon for the Kiwi. "Lawson, for me, needs to improve still and needs to show he can put in a good result." Button concluded. After the Singapore GP, Lawson joined VCARB as a replacement for the outgoing Daniel Ricciardo. Since his debut in Austin, the New Zealander has scored four points, which consisted of two ninth-placed finishes at the Circuit of the Americas and Interlagos in Brazil.

This article was written in collaboration with Jeroen Immink

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