Where Yuki Tsunoda must go for 2025 onwards

 

  Well in his fourth year of Formula 1, Yuki Tsunoda is undoubtedly having his best season to date.

  Consistently finishing in the points and being the best driver in the field not from Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes or Aston Martin. Which is no small feat considering the gap between those five teams as compared to the bottom five.

  Constantly outclassing veteran team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who has fallen out of favour with some former world champions on TV, and finishing in good points positions, Yuki looked to finally earn a promotion to the Red Bull senior team alongside Max Verstappen.

  Unfortunately, that would not come to fruition for the Japanese as the senior team opted to re-sign Sergio Perez for a further two years until 2026. A decision that came to a surprise to many F1 fans due to the Mexican's underwhelming results in the past two years. 

  Nevertheless, it leaves Yuki with some options to steer his future towards as he may not want to keep sitting around for six years hoping that Red Bull will promote him one day.

  Here are some of Yuki's options for 2025:

Stay with VCARB

VCARB have comfortably been the sixth best team on the grid this season. Managing to secure points on a consistent basis, even if Yuki isn't looking to be in a Red Bull anytime soon, he can still stay at VCARB and be a solid midfield contender. 

 If Checo underperforms once more, maybe they will finally call him up to fight for podiums or even wins.

 With Daniel Ricciardo's hopes of a dream return to Red Bull Racing essentially obsolete, the Aussie may leave VCARB as he does not see much purpose in staying with them knowing that promotion is not on the cards. 

  This can allow Liam Lawson to step into the team and potentially give Yuki a challenge and push him to be an even better driver or further prove himself to the Red Bull hierarchy should he beat the Kiwi.

Switch Teams

As mentioned before, Yuki is already in his fourth year of F1. If he wants to progress his career, sitting around in the same team hoping for a move that seems like a gamble to happen considering the lack of faith shown by the likes of Marko and Horner in not promoting him, he may want to look at outside options such as..

Alpine

  With Esteban Ocon being shown the door after a collision with team-mate Pierre Gasly left the team from Enstone enraged, they may look at some options and with their history of ignoring academy drivers, Jack Doohan is an option but if there is a stronger one they are almost certain to take it.

  If Yuki does leave, he may want to join Alpine. A team that has been consistently best of the rest in recent years and despite the recent down form, they look to have developed their car forwards towards the lower end of the points paying positions. 

  Furthermore, his healthy relationship with Alpine's remaining driver, Pierre Gasly, also means that he can be helped into settling into a new environment quicker and Alpine would not have to fear the inter-team wars that have been plaguing them for the past few years with Alonso and Ocon, and Ocon and Gasly.

Audi/Sauber

  Sauber are a team with one of the most optimistic futures in the F1 grid. With motorsport giants Audi looking to take over the team from 2026 onwards, they are looking for a fresh start with their drivers. They already have a German face with the likes of Nico Hulkenberg moving into the team from 2025 onwards which means that the second seat is still hanging in the balance.

  Yuki may want to join Sauber for 2025 as he looks to settle into the new environment before fully pushing flat out in 2026 in the new regulations when Audi do take over and provide the team with extra funds and facilities towards car development.

  However, it is important to note that the same Sauber team now is in no man's land. Constantly being in the bottom end of the field nowhere near points, is it worth taking the gamble in the event that Audi does not help the team's current struggles.

  A risky move to take but it could pay off if Audi play their cards right.

Aston Martin

  A heavy rumour around the paddock for awhile, Yuki Tsunoda might look towards Aston Martin. 

  A team that has been fluctuating between being the third best car and the fifth best car for the last few seasons with the wise Fernando Alonso showing its capabilities on a good day. 

  Though it may seem unlikely with Lance Stroll being locked into the second seat for an unknown amount of time in his contract, the Canadian may start to look at other racing series as F1 is not turning out for him even when he has one of the fastest cars on the grid.

  If that were to happen, Yuki is a capable midfield runner who has begun to show some consistency this year and thus would make him the best fit for the seat.

  Although most of Yuki's options are based on hypotheticals, in the world of F1 silly seasons. The hypotheticals may turn into reality as seen in Sir Lewis Hamilton's shock move to Ferrari.

-- THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN AN HOUR BEFORE YUKI TSUNODA WAS ANNOUNCED TO EXTEND HIS CONTRACT WITH VCARB FOR 2025 --