![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SI202507261361_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb-1024x683.jpg\")
Yuki Tsunoda in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson\/Getty Images) \/\/ Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\nAs the F1 summer break comes to a close, driver market discussions are set to continue in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n
Most of the undecided seats for 2026 still haven\u2019t been filled, with arguably the most high-profile example of this being Red Bull.<\/p>\n
Aside from Max Verstappen, whose own future was in doubt earlier in the year, there is little clarity on what Red Bull\u2019s driver situation will look like.<\/p>\n
Yuki Tsunoda in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson\/Getty Images) \/\/ Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n
Tsunoda, Hadjar, Lawson and even F2 driver Arvid Lindblad<\/a> are still waiting for clarity on where they will drive next season.<\/p>\n What could be decisive in Red Bull\u2019s next steps is their team principal Laurent Mekies \u2013 who has committed to supporting Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> as much as possible.<\/p>\n Why Yuki Tsunoda still has Red Bull\u2019s support<\/p>\n Following Pierre Gasly\u2019s Red Bull exit in 2022, Yuki Tsunoda became the benchmark at VCARB.<\/p>\n Tsunoda consistently outperformed the teammates put alongside him, from De Vries to Ricciardo, throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old was also comfortably faster than Isak Hadjar in their very brief time as teammates.<\/p>\n In this context, Tsunoda has been one of Red Bull\u2019s most important assets for some time.<\/p>\n Of course, with Christian Horner never especially confident in Tsunoda\u2019s abilities, the Japanese driver effectively became a test for other Red Bull prospects.<\/p>\n In many ways, this was Pierre Gasly\u2019s role<\/a> at the second team after his Red Bull demotion halfway through 2o19.<\/p>\n Regardless, when Lawson<\/a> struggled at the start of 2025, Red Bull immediately back-tracked on their decision to overlook Tsunoda.<\/p>\n Since joining Red Bull, a combination of factors have limited Tsunoda\u2019s output.<\/p>\n According to team principal Laurent Mekies, however, none of these reasons are a consequence of skill.<\/p>\n Mekies, who was the 25-year-old\u2019s team principal at VCARB, refuses to blame the #22 driver for his tough spell:<\/p>\n \u201cThe priority is to give Yuki what he needs to perform,\u201d he told Sky Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWith regards to the second seat, that\u2019s where the priority is. It\u2019s what the team is concentrated on.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have been trying that for a number of races now. We are trying to find ways together to make a further step.<\/p>\n \u201cSpa was very positive, certainly from that perspective, Hungary was a tricky weekend overall. So it\u2019s probably a bit more difficult to judge.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there is no reason why Yuki\u2019s performance cannot be what we have seen in the past.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s what we are concentrated on right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Chance for a fresh start in Zandvoort<\/p>\n On several occasions this season, Tsunoda has shown signs of promise at Red Bull.<\/p>\n The most recent example of this was in Belgium, qualifying 7th after receiving the same floor spec as Verstappen.<\/p>\n It was poor strategy on Sunday that prevented him from scoring points.<\/p>\n Even at the most recent Hungarian GP, Tsunoda was only a tenth behind Verstappen in qualifying.<\/p>\n Due to Red Bull\u2019s decline, as evidenced by the reigning Champion only finishing 9th on race day<\/a>, this was not enough to make it out of Q2.<\/p>\n In more ways than one, Tsunoda \u2013 who had a case for a promotion in 2024 \u2013 has joined the team at the worst possible time.<\/p>\n Despite this, there is still a chance for the 25-year-old to stabilise his position.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SI202508030462_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb-1024x683.jpg\")
Yuki Tsunoda in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Joe Portlock\/Getty Images) \/\/ Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n