Yuki Tsunoda took the next step in his Formula 1 career by leaving his long-term management group behind after being overlooked for a 2025 promotion to Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver, who joined the junior team of Red Bull when he entered F1 on a full-time basis in 2021, parted company with his long-time managment (Mario Miyakawa and Luis Alvarez) and is now employing new advisor Diego Menchaca, a former racer turned driver manager.
This action comes after Red Bull’s decision to promote Liam Lawson ahead of Tsunoda, who has been doing well in the few Formula 1 races he already has driven. By changing his representation, Tsunoda is sending a message that he is serious about securing a more competitive seat—either at Red Bull or elsewhere. Menchaca has already shifted to strengthen Tsunoda’s connections with the key decision-makers, including Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
But will this move be enough to earn Tsunoda an elite spot? While he has improved greatly, Red Bull management made it clear that he can’t stay in the junior team indefinitely. If he doesn’t get qualified for a Red Bull Racing spot in 2025, he may have to seek other options outside of the Red Bull setup.
Yuki Tsunoda’s ties to Honda have been a significant part of his career journey to Formula 1, but the nature of their relationship is evolving. As HRC President Koji Watanabe put it, Tsunoda now has a “sponsorship contract” with Honda rather than outright backing as a junior driver. Watanabe stressed that with Tsunoda into his fifth year in F1,
“I have to take matters into my own hands,”
emphasizing that the driver now will have more support on his own way in Formula 1. Honda invested heavily in Tsunoda’s progression, backing him through Japan’s junior ranks and his transition to Europe, but with the company to partner with Aston Martin from 2026, there is no clear future for Tsunoda outside Red Bull’s operation. This shift in support makes his 2025 bid even more crucial—strong performances could keep him in Red Bull’s plan or even open the door to Honda’s future prospects.
Those drives at the likes of Aston Martin, Williams, or returning to Honda-backed projects in the future might be on the cards. But the key to getting a better drive will be performance on the circuit and good working connetions. If he can keep battling top drivers in the midfield and show that he has the consistency and racecraft to fight for podiums, other bigger teams may take notice.
Having a new manager behind him, Tsunoda is now at a juncture of his career. This could be the motivation he needs to break into a top team, showing that he possesses the talent and maturity to perform at the absolute top level. But if he doesn’t deliver stellar performances during this season, Red Bull will likely turn their attention elsewhere, and he’ll need to find a future somewhere else in F1. Whether this move brings him forward or signals the beginning of the end with Red Bull will depend entirely on what he delivers on track.