Tsunoda can change Red Bull's mind, they say in RB

Yuki Tsunoda has what it takes to put an end to doubts Red Bull about his promotion to the main team, says his current team leader at RB.

The Japanese will board a Red Bull car for the first time after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at a time when the team is studying who to sit next to. Max Verstappen in 2025.

Although Sergio Perez has a contract in place, performance-related clauses mean he could be fired, so Tsunoda himself or Liam Lawson They are candidates to replace him.

Tsunoda is the more experienced driver of the two, but Red Bull has doubted for some time whether or not he has the appropriate level in terms of consistency, mental strength and technical knowledge to justify this promotion and the seat next to Verstappen.

But the manager of the RB team, Laurent Mékièsbelieves there could be a change of heart at Red Bull if the company continues to perform: “The measures taken this year were, I think, a surprise to everyone,” he said. “And I hope the surprise was also a surprise for Red Bull. I think we are in an industry where everyone is focused on results, and as soon as a driver starts to perform or exceed expectations, “Everyone changes their mind very, very quickly.”

“I think for Yuki it's about continuing to perform at the same high level on the pitch. And we're all very quick to change our minds as soon as we see a guy playing the way he should,” he said. -he explained.

Tsunoda is coming off two impressive qualifying performances, with a third place on the grid in Brazil and a seventh in Las Vegas. Mekies believes these results are proof that he has made the most of the opportunities given to him with a RB who has not always been strong.

“When I see Yuki performing again at the level he had in the last few races, I think it has been, overall, an exceptional season from him,” he said. “I think this season he took a step forward that no one could have predicted and that’s something he should be proud of.”

When asked about What did you expect from Tsunoda during the Red Bull tests?and if he thought he was ready to take the plunge, Mekies replied: “I think a guy at that level, who scored all the points he scored this year, a guy who placed seventh or third, of course, I honestly think he's ready to have a faster car.

“We hope to give him a faster car. But of course I think he is ready for a faster car and a bigger team. As for the tests he will do with them, I think it is very important for our drivers to have the opportunity in a bigger team, in our sister team.

“That's one of the key aspects of our DNA for this team, being able to develop our drivers and make them attractive enough for Red Bull to want to have them. We're really happy that he has this test and I'm confident that he will do a good job,” he concluded.