Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly in contention for a surprise 2025 move to Alpine after Esteban Ocon’s sudden exit

Yuki Tsunoda's contract at RB expires at the end of the season.

Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly in contention for a surprise 2025 move to Alpine after Esteban Ocon’s sudden exit

Yuki Tsunoda, Bruno Famin and Esteban Ocon (via IMAGO)

Visa Cash App RB driver, Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly in contention for a seat on the Alpine F1 team in 2025 after Esteban Ocon‘s sudden exit from the team. Ocon announced earlier today that he would be leaving the Enstone-based outfit at the end of the season.

Esteban Ocon was involved in a controversial crash during the Monaco Grand Prix, during which he tried to unnecessarily overtake his teammate, Pierre Gasly on the first lap. This move almost jeopardized the position of Gasly, as Ocon had to retire after the incident.

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On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda has been under the axe of Red Bull despite performing better than his teammate this season at VCARB. The talented Japanese driver has provoked interest from many teams including Alpine for 2025.

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So, Tsunoda is looking at places such as Williams, Haas and Alpine, and it seems he has a decent chance of landing one of those seats in this summer’s driver musical chairs.
BBC Sport F1 journalist Andrew Benson said in a report

According to reports, Red Bull is not considering Yuki Tsunoda for a drive in 2025, which leaves the 24-year-old driver without a team as his contract expires at the end of the season. Tsunoda will therefore try to perform to the best of his abilities to secure offers from the teams of Williams, Haas, and Alpine for the coming season.

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Daniel Ricciardo addresses performance concerns for RB

While Tsunoda is on a decent run this year, Daniel Ricciardo has addressed concerns regarding his performance for the Red Bull sister team. The eight-time race winner has scored only five points this season.

Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo (via IMAGO)
I think, like today[qualifying in Monaco GP], maybe we do find something that, okay, that's why I lost a bit here or there. But there will probably always be something, this is F1, and it's never perfect. So I just, I'm not happy with having these gaps. I think that's what's frustrating me a bit. Obviously, the team has been great.
Daniel Ricciardo said in an interview with RacingNews365.

Daniel Ricciardo joined AlphaTauri (VCARB) during the second half of the 2023 season and has, hence, driven for the team this year. However, as indicated earlier, the Australian driver has been heavily outperformed by Tsunoda, which has raised concerns regarding the 34-year-old’s future with the team.

Ricciardo has been in praise of the Faenza-based team for their hard work and has pledged to perform to the best of his abilities in the coming races of the season. But as for his future with the team, the Australian driver faces tough competition from young, aspiring talents waiting in the wings for an opportunity.

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