Red Bull driver Sergio Perez could be replaced for 2025 (Image: Getty)
is adamant that he “definitely deserves” to replace Sergio Perez at and partner championship leader next season.
The Japanese driver is set to conclude his fourth season with the Visa Cash App RB team with only three races left in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
But the 24-year-old is still none the wiser as to whether he will drive for next year or stay in his current team with .
adviser Helmut Marko has indicated the Constructors’ champions may decide to replace Perez at the end of the 2024 season, leaving a vacant spot on the grid for next year.
In a clear message to the team, Tsunoda believes he should be the frontrunner to race alongside Verstappen in 2025 if Perez is axed. Asked whether he believes he deserves the seat, he replied: “Yeah, 100 per cent.
“I always say that definitely I deserve that seat and I can’t say more than that. Definitely. [Now it’s] up to them.”
Despite watching his team-mates come and go at , Tsunoda has proved to be a consistent figure in the midfield and is on the verge of surpassing his season-best total of 32 points, with 28 so far this year.
VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda says he deserves to race for Red Bull in 2025 (Image: Getty)
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He consistently out-qualified and finished ahead of former team-mate , while his predecessor Nyck de Vries was sacked after 10 races.
Now driving alongside Liam Lawson, reports have suggested the Milton Keynes team could snub Tsunoda in favour of the New Zealand racer, who has scored three top-10 finishes in eight races since making his F1 debut.
Argentinian star Franco Colapinto, 21, has also reportedly held talks with after starring for Williams since replacing at the tail end of the season.
Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate Liam Lawson is also in the running (Image: Getty)
Reacting to speculation, Tsunoda insisted the rumours are nothing new and he is choosing to block out the noise surrounding his future.
“Some of the stories are already happening from when Daniel was my team-mate. Liam came in and suddenly he’s up,” Tsunoda said. “So, to be honest, it’s just the usual story in that team, or in the family.
“I mean, it’s a usual story. It’s like part of the motorsport, Formula 1, especially our team. And it is what it is. I don’t really think about it.”
Tsunoda will get a chance to prove himself at the post-season F1 test in Abu Dhabi, where he will get behind the wheel of a for the first time after team principal held talks with Honda to discuss the opportunity.