Honda names ideal replacement for Sergio Perez at Red Bull

Honda's president Koji Watanabe weighed in on the decision of replacing Sergio Perez with another driver at Red Bull for the 2025 season.

Honda names ideal replacement for Sergio Perez at Red Bull

Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez (via Getty Images)

The 2024 season proved to be extremely difficult for Red Bull. The RB20 chassis was mediocre at best mid-way through the campaign. Moreover, Sergio Perez‘s disastrous form caused the team to lose out on the constructors’ championship. As a result, the Mexican is highly likely to be replaced ahead of the 2025 season as Red Bull’s engine provider Honda weighed in on the decision.

Sergio Perez‘s sacking is highly evident as multiple sources claim the decision has already been made. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson seem to be the front runners for a move up the main team. The Japanese-based Honda’s president Koji Watanabe has recommended the local hero for a potential promotion.

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Watanabe reckoned that his opinion was only a recommendation as the final decision lay on the team. The Japanese businessman believed that Tsunoda put forth sufficient results to be promoted up the chain. Hence, the 24-year-old should be the candidate to replace Perez at Milton Keynes in the coming season and not Lawson.

The team has every right to decide on the driver, so our opinion is only a recommendation. However, HRC believes that Tsunoda has sufficient capabilities to be promoted to Red Bull, and that he should be one of the candidates.

Koji Watanabe told Autosport Web

Yuki Tsunoda has grown ‘tremendously’ over the years in F1

Yuki Tsunoda has been racing with AlphaTauri (currently Racing Bulls) since the 2021 season. Despite this, he hasn’t been considered for a move up the pecking order. Tsunoda outshone his teammates throughout the seasons in performance. As a result, Ex-F1 driver and Honda Advisor Takuma Sato reckoned that the Japanese driver showcased great speed and management. Moreover, the 24-year-old had grown tremendously and deserved a move up the chain.

I think he has become a very good driver. His current speed is great, and he manages everything well, including his race management and race skills. He has grown tremendously over the years.

Takuma Sato noted
Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda
Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda (Via: Motorsportweek)

Red Bull is going under massive personnel change as the 2025 season inches closer. Rumors suggested that Lawson is the likely the choice to replace Perez. However, Tsunoda put forth some impressive lap times during the Abu Dhabi post-season testing and thus, might be considered for a promotion.