Yuki Tsunoda will stay at RB for the 2025 Formulation 1 season after the group accepted an choice to increase the Japanese driver’s contract for one more yr.
The 24-year-old’s hopes of securing a promotion to Purple Bull from the reigning constructors’ champions’ junior group ended earlier this week when Sergio Perez was given two years to stay as Max Verstappen’s teammate.
Tsunoda by no means appeared to be thought-about a severe candidate to affix the Purple Bull group in 2025, regardless of making a robust begin to his fourth F1 marketing campaign, far outstripping team-mate Daniel Rieck within the course of a yard.
“I am very excited to stick with Visa Money App RB and it feels good to have my future determined so early this yr,” Tsunoda stated in an announcement.
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Sky F1’s Bernie Collins believes Purple Bull’s choice to increase Sergio Perez’s contract is an try to “stabilize” the state of affairs on the group.
“For that, I wish to thank everybody at Purple Bull and Honda, who’ve performed such an vital position in my profession and can proceed to take action. The group has an enormous growth venture forward and I am excited to be part of it. It is good to know that everybody appreciates all of the laborious work I’ve put in and that the group believes I might help them transfer up the desk.
“We’ve got already made clear progress this season and that motivates me to all the time do my finest and that’s what I’ll proceed to do with VCARB. For now, I am centered on the remaining races this season, with the objective of bringing residence as many factors as attainable, all the time rising with the group, laying the muse to do even higher subsequent yr!”
Mekies: Tsunoda’s progress ‘merely phenomenal’
Given the shortage of traction relating to Tsunoda’s attainable development via the Purple Bull ranks, he has just lately been linked with a transfer away from the group.
Tsunoda got here via the youth program of engine provider Purple Bull and RB Honda to achieve F1, however the Japanese producer will now not provide groups when the game’s guidelines change in 2026.
Honda, which initially introduced it was leaving F1, will as a substitute provide engines to rival Aston Martin, resulting in hypothesis that Tsunoda might be a part of the group at Silverstone sooner or later.
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Each RB drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda say they continue to be optimistic about their futures at Purple Bull regardless of information that Sergio Perez will stick with the group for one more two years
Nonetheless, given the energy of his performances, it is no shock that RB jumped on the likelihood to maintain Tsunoda for a minimum of yet another yr.
RB group principal Laurent Mequies stated: “I’ve watched Yuki’s progress in F1 with curiosity even earlier than I returned to Faenza and it has been spectacular, yr after yr. The step he is taken this yr is simply phenomenal and he continues to shock us all race after race.
“Certainly, his pure velocity, to which he has now added a way more mature method, and that mixture makes him a really fast and constant performer and a fantastic group participant.
“We proceed to higher perceive what he wants from us and vice versa, so we develop collectively, Yuki as a pilot and the group as Visa Money App RB. We share the identical ambitions, so there are a number of good causes to proceed our journey collectively, He nonetheless has so much to provide!”
What about Ricardo?
With the 2025 driver market remaining extraordinarily fluid, with a number of spots to fill, RB has but to substantiate who will journey alongside Tsunoda subsequent season.
Ricciardo has to this point didn’t impress in his full return to F1 after changing Nico de Vries halfway via final season.
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Residence favourite Yuki Tsunoda joins Ted Kravitz over breakfast to debate his early days in karting, his rivalry with teammate Daniel Ricciardo and what his future appears to be like like at RB
Purple Bull junior Liam Lawson is biding his time after impressing when he stood in following Ricciardo’s damage final season, with the group nonetheless showing to evaluate their choices.
RB chief govt Peter Bayer added: “Yuki is a graduate of the Purple Bull and Honda Junior Driver packages and due to good work from all sides he has been in a position to attain his present stage of efficiency.
“Because the saying goes, ‘by no means change a successful group’, so we’re delighted to substantiate that Yuki is a part of our future. He’s a precious asset on and off the race monitor as a result of his participating character has made him highly regarded with followers world wide. We’re glad that he’s staying with us.”
Sky Sports activities F1 – Canadian Grand Prix dwell schedule
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A glance again at among the Canadian Grand Prix’s most dramatic moments
Sunday, June 9
5:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday – Canadian Grand Prix build-up
19:00: CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
21:00: Checkered flag – Canadian GP response
10:00 p.m.: Ted’s Pocket book
Formulation 1 is in Montreal as a part of the Canadian Grand Prix and you may watch each session on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit this weekend dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s race at 7pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime