Tsunoda set for Red Bull F1 race as reserve driver as crucial decision finalised – Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has long harboured ambitions of joining the senior Red Bull Racing team next season to drive alongside three-time world champion Max Verstappen. While Tsunoda has considerably more F1 experience than some of his rivals in Red Bull’s driver pipeline, the energy-drink backed team have reportedly opted to promote New Zealander Liam Lawson for a full-time seat in 2025 instead.
Despite missing out on his primary target, the Japanese driver could still find himself behind the wheel of the all-conquering RB20 on race weekends. According to RacingNews365, Tsunoda has been named Red Bull Racing’s official reserve driver for next season, meaning he will step into the car if either Verstappen or Lawson is unavailable at short notice.
The appointment makes Tsunoda a key figure within Red Bull’s F1 structure. With Verstappen already carrying several penalty points on his super licence, the possibility of Tsunoda temporarily replacing him in a race cannot be ruled out. Indeed, there is also doubt as to the suitability of Lawson as a teammate for Verstappen in 2025 which could mean Tsunoda stepping in and racing for Red Bull as a replacement.
Hamilton called out on behaviour 1st day at Ferrari
Tsunoda’s Red Bull promotion could come early in the season
While Tsunoda will continue to race full-time for Racing Bulls – Red Bull’s sister team – he is now an important back-up option for the main squad, should the need arise.
Another scenario that could bring him into the Red Bull fold sooner rather than later revolves around Verstappen’s precarious disciplinary record.
The Dutch superstar currently has eight penalty points on his licence heading into the 2025 season. Once a driver accumulates twelve points, he is automatically suspended for one race. While Verstappen will have one of his points deducted after the Austrian Grand Prix in June, he still faces the challenge of getting through the first half of the season without any further offences.
Should Verstappen cross the line, Red Bull would have no choice but to find a replacement for at least one Grand Prix – an opportunity that would likely fall into Tsunoda’s lap. Given his familiarity with Red Bull’s power unit and operations, he would be the logical choice to step in should the need arise.
Hamilton plays clever politics week 1 in Maranello
The reserve system: Ayumu Iwasa on standby for Racing Bulls
Tsunoda’s temporary promotion to Red Bull would, in turn, create a vacancy at Racing Bulls, which would be filled by Ayumu Iwasa. The 23-year-old Japanese driver has been named as Racing Bulls’ reserve driver for next season, having accumulated the necessary 40 Super Licence points through his performances in Formula 2 and the Japanese Super Formula Championship.
Iwasa has already begun to integrate into the Formula One environment, having taken part in free practice sessions with Racing Bulls in Japan and Abu Dhabi during the 2024 season. He has also logged valuable test miles in an F1 car during post-season testing in the desert state.
This structured hierarchy ensures that Red Bull’s F1 operations remain covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances. If Tsunoda were to join Red Bull for a race weekend, Iwasa would step in with the Racing Bulls to ensure a seamless driver rotation.
Reality of an imminent Verstappen race ban
Red Bull’s bold driver decisions continue
The decision to promote Lawson ahead of Tsunoda for 2025 is another example of Red Bull’s aggressive approach to talent management. While Tsunoda has steadily improved during his time in F1, the team’s preference for Lawson suggests a preference for fresh talent over experience.
Lawson, who impressed during his substitute appearances in 2023 as a replacement for the injured Daniel Ricciardo, is widely regarded as Red Bull’s next big prospect. His strong performances during his short stint in F1 – where he outperformed the Racing Bulls’ regular drivers at times – convinced Red Bull that he was ready for the step up.
For Tsunoda, this latest development is both a disappointment and an opportunity. While he will have to wait longer for a full-time Red Bull seat, his role as the team’s reserve driver will keep him in the spotlight. Any opportunity to drive Red Bull’s dominant car, even as a temporary replacement, could serve as an important audition for a more permanent future with the team.
2025 Mercedes driver contract intrigue
What this means for the 2025 season
As the 2025 season approaches, Tsunoda’s new role adds an intriguing subplot to the campaign. While his primary focus will remain on leading Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar, the door to Red Bull remains slightly ajar.
Verstappen’s aggressive approach on the track means he is never far from controversy, and with eight penalty points to his name, he will need to tread carefully to avoid a race ban. Should he fall foul of FIA regulations, Tsunoda will finally get his long-awaited chance in a championship-winning car.
Likewise, Lawson’s appointment with Red Bull leaves the Racing Bulls without an immediate fallback option should Tsunoda or Hadjar be unavailable. This is where Iwasa comes in, providing the junior team with a competent and race-ready replacement.
For now, Tsunoda’s aspirations of a full-time Red Bull seat may be on hold, but given the unpredictable nature of Formula One, his chance to race for the reigning champions may come sooner than expected.
READ MORE – Wolff not confident in Antonelli, Mercedes plan B revealed
MORE F1 NEWS – Hamilton gets to drive last year’s Ferrari F1 car
Formula One has changed beyond all recognition over the past two decades and in particularly its attitude to cars on track testing. With the majority of the teams based in the English motorsports valley, Silverstone was the preferred testing venue for those teams and most Wednesday’s during the European season, the sound track for the Northamptonshire countryside was the roar of V12’s, V10’s and even the later V8 engines.
In season testing was unlimited and the year before Lewis Hamilton debuted in 2007, he tested for 8,000km in the MP4/21, the current car for 2026.
In its early efforts to level the F1 playing field the FIA all but banned in season testing due to the massive spend by the bigger teams whilst those further down the grid could afford way less…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Ultimately, no different from Bearman being a reserve driver for Ferrari simultaneously, but most likely, Tsunoda’s similar double role will prove only theoretical as Max is unlikely to reach twelve penalty points in any case & while Lawson can just as equally succeed as he could fail, so too early to judge, not to mention, he’s definitely more ready to race in a top-level team than Antonelli in F1 in the first place.
Both Tsunoda’s & Iwasa’s days in the Red Bull organization are almost certainly numbered due to the Honda PU supply’s impending end, & regarding Iwasa, he’s had a super license for a little while already as he reached eligibility in F2 already, so Super Formula results have had zero impact in this regard.
Nevertheless, his chance is also very scarce due to the above-referred time limitation effectively lasting until the next Abu Dhabi GP.