So far in the 2024 Formula 1 season, Yuki Tsunoda has shown a level of stability rarely seen before. He has clearly outshone teammate Daniel Ricciardo almost every weekend, while at the same time being a hot tip for the position as the best driver of the five back-bencher teams at every race.
His starting position in the driver market is therefore completely different than in previous years. Tsunoda does not have to worry about his contract with the Racing Bulls, instead other teams are said to be interested in the Japanese, who came to Formula 1 via Red Bull with Honda support.
Yuki Tsunoda: New contract not yet signed
In Faenza, they therefore want to get the contract extension finalized quickly. “Yuki Tsunoda is set. That’s clear,” said Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko to the ‘Kleine Zeitung’.
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, Tsunoda made it clear that he was not opposed to an extension, but nothing had been finalized yet. “Red Bull is always my first option. But I haven’t signed anything yet,” said Tsunoda. He added, however, “We are in ongoing discussions, but I am happy with the car at RB.”
Usually, the drivers of the small team of the Bulls do not have a contract with the Italian F1 team but with Red Bull itself. That is why Tsunoda speaks of Red Bull in this context and not because he is hoping for a place in the top team. That train has probably already left the station after Sergio Perez’s contract extension for 2025 and 2026.
“I just have to keep improving and at the same time hopefully Red Bull will increasingly recognize my performance potential, then maybe that can change,” says Tsunoda, confident that he could still get his chance in Milton Keynes in the future.
Has Audi come knocking? Yuki Tsunoda confirms interest from other F1 teams
The 24-year-old trusts that time is on his side: “I’m currently having the best season of my life. There will be more to come in the future, so I don’t feel under pressure.”
Although a contract extension with Red Bull is high on his priority list, Tsunoda confirms that for the first time Formula 1 teams outside the RB cosmos had shown interest in him. “I also had some options with other teams,” said Tsunoda. Rumours say that he was in talks with Audi, but Red Bull put a stop to a possible departure of their former junior driver.
However, Tsunoda is counting on the increasing interest in the Formula 1 driver market to increase his share at Red Bull. “I am already very committed to Red Bull and hopefully I can get a little more commitment from them,” he said. However, Tsunoda left it open whether he was referring to a correspondingly higher salary or a longer term.