Tsunoda: I didn't read my contract properly, it's almost worthless
F1 NewsSaturday, 27 July 2024 at 14:00
With an almost "worthless" contract for 2025, on merit Yuki Tsunoda is the next Red Bull driver due to replace under-performing Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen's teammate but the fact he is not being considered for promotion irks the fiery Japanese driver.
Verstappen's teammate, in the Formula 1 World Champion's team, is a poisoned chalice, as no one Red Bull has sourced for the number two seat has been able to match the Dutch 26-year-old. His 'scalps' include Carlos Sainz, Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Daniel Ricciardo while the 'scalping' of Perez is ongoing.
Thus the second seat at RBR is a bone of contention. Despite rare spates of acceptable performance for a driver of his experience, Perez received an undeserved boost with a contract extension from Red Bull. However, he has continued to ne woeful ever since. His future remains uncertain after Helmut Marko confirmed that all F1 contracts have an exit clause.
That might've triggered a wake-up call for Perez. But he slept through the alarm and faces ousting if not after the summer break, at the end of the season if his form continues as it is.
Plenty talk of Liam Lawson or even Carlos Sainz replacing Perez, why not Yuki?
Speaking to reporters in Belgium, Tsunoda, who renewed his VCARB contract in June, clearly has no faith in F1 legalities: "They can play around and do whatever they want with it. The contract is almost worthless.
"I didn't read my contract properly. Whatever it says, I think it will end up with this team," reckoned Tsunoda of his immediate future with VCARB although Red Bull, who signed his cheques, could change that and promote him if they felt the volatile Japanese driver was worthy.
Of course, Tsunoda has no doubts he is: "I did what I was supposed to do. What more can I do than that? If you only look at the performance, then the case is pretty clear."
Indeed 25-year-old Tsunoda ended veteran teammate Daniel Ricciardo's RBR promotion dreams. He is a few steps behind his younger teammate in terms of brownie performance points to receive the honour.
StasF1 show that the Qualifying score is Tsunoda 14, Ricciardo 7, and in Races the score is 13 to Yuki, versus 7 to Ricciardo.
Big Question: Does Yuki Tsunoda deserve a crack being Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull?
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