Marko hints at reason for continued Tsunoda Red Bull rejection

Helmut Marko has suggested Yuki Tsunoda’s lack of “continuity and stability” is a key reason behind his snubs for Red Bull F1 promotion.

Tsunoda has put in a number of impressive performances at RB this season, but despite these, is not believed to be a serious contender for the seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, if Sergio Perez is axed.

In the past, after impressing at the junior team, the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Verstappen were all promoted to the senior team, with Tsunoda hinting on Thursday in Qatar that the death of Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022 had prompted a shift in Red Bull’s mindset towards promoting young drivers.

He is set for his first running in a contemporary Red Bull machine in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, but motorsport advisor Marko belives the Japanese racer is still lacking some consistency.

“He has now delivered two very good races in Brazil and Las Vegas,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung, after Tsunoda finished seventh and ninth, respectively.

“Unfortunately, he made two stupid mistakes in Brazil before that. Yuki has the speed, but he lacks continuity and stability.

“But when it works for him, it works very well.”

Tsunoda’s future – and that of Perez and Tsunoda’s team-mate Liam Lawson are all set to be decided at a meeting of senior Red Bull management on the Monday following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.