Yuki Tsunoda rejoices in front of the garage belonging to Daniel Ricciardo.
Red Bull reportedly have until September to exercise their option on Yuki Tsunoda, but if a rival wants to beat them to his signature for the 2025 season, it will cost them “five million dollars”.
Joining Red Bull’s junior team in 2021 with his Honda backing, Yuki Tsunoda needed time to adjust to Formula 1 but this season has emerged as RB’s lead driver.
Red Bull have reportedly put a ‘five million dollars’ pricetag on Yuki Tsunoda
Despite scoring 19 points compared to Daniel Ricciardo’s five, certain experts proposed that Red Bull should consider Tsunoda for the upcoming championship. However, the team decided to stick with Sergio Perez instead.
Max Verstappen’s team-mate, the Mexican driver, has signed a two-year extension and will continue to be his partner until the culmination of the F1 2026 championship.
However, although the opportunity to join Red Bull is currently not available for Tsunoda, he is anticipated to remain with RB for his fifth season in 2025.
Although Helmut Marko has stated that Tsunoda is “set, that’s clear,” there is still no official confirmation regarding this matter.
The team though isn’t in a rush to confirm their 2025 deal with Auto Motor und Sport reporting they have until September to exercise their option on Tsunoda.
Nevertheless, should another team be eager to acquire him prior to that time, they will need to pay a hefty sum of “five million dollars”.
According to a German publication, Yuki Tsunoda’s impressive performances are currently making him a strong candidate for a spot in the A team. However, it is worth noting that Tsunoda is a protégé of Honda, and Red Bull’s partnership with Honda is set to conclude in 2026. As a result, Tsunoda may also be considered for a role at Toro Rosso [Team RB] in 2025.
In September, Red Bull retains the right to exercise its option on the driver who finishes in tenth place in the World Championship.
“Before then, anyone wishing to remove him will need to pay a sum of five million dollars.”
More on Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 future
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RB three-driver conundrum: Marko’s Yuki Tsunoda reveal and Liam Lawson clause reminder
Nevertheless, it seems inevitable that RB will exercise their option, given the team boss Laurent Mekies’ praise for his driver’s exceptional start to the season.
During the Sky F1 broadcast, he mentioned that the team’s external activities have generated more excitement compared to the internal dynamics.
“Throughout the initial phase of the season, we have made relentless efforts to provide Yuki and Daniel with the optimal vehicle for them to showcase their talents.”
It is clear that Yuki has made an exceptional start to the season, showcasing his natural compatibility with the team. The current momentum suggests that things will undoubtedly keep progressing positively.
Regarding his teammate Ricciardo, the Frenchman stated that they are putting in significant effort to enhance his comfort in the car.
“Do we need to hurry? Not really, as there is no urgency to make a decision promptly.”
RB seems likely to retain Tsunoda, but Ricciardo is currently in competition with reserve driver Liam Lawson for the second seat.
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