Is the Red Bull driver pool in the shallow end?

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This week, we saw the news break from Oracle Red Bull Racing that they have decided on their reserve driver line-up for the upcoming 2025 season!

While it raised a few eyebrows, considering the recent moves in the fabled Red Bull Academy, is it that much of a shock?

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Yuki Tsunoda named as Red Bull Reserve Driver

Yuki Tsunoda has been named the driver who will be called upon should Red Bull need a replacement for either Max Verstappen or Liam Lawson during the 2025 season. This would be, of course, in addition to his race duties with Visa CashApp RB.

This is NOT a strange deal, by any means.

It is believed that, despite Oliver Bearman securing a  multiyear deal with Haas, Ferrari still have an option to use him to step in for Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc should they need to this season. Given how close the call was between Yuki and Liam to secure that Red Bull seat, it seems the  obvious call to make.

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What role does the Red Bull Driver Academy play?

While the choice is not a shock, it does show the impact of the last few years and the streamlining of the Red Bull Academy Junior Driver Program. Choosing a driver that is already 'employed' potentially signals signs of weakness.

Over the last few years, the company has made a conscious effort to 'thin out' their driver pool. What does this mean? They don't have an extensive driver pool to pull from, that they once enjoyed - opting for quality over quantity as they look towards unearthing the next Max Verstappen. 

Current Red Bull Drivers

By running two teams in F1, Red Bull needs strength in numbers. With the high-profile departures of Daniel Ricciardo after the 2024 Singapore GP and then, of course, Sergio Perez at the end of the 2024 season, they now face a real driver shortage for the 1st time in a number of years.

As it currently stands on their books, Red Bull only have:

• Max Verstappen (RBR seat)
• Liam Lawson (RBR seat)
• Yuki Tsunoda (VCARB seat, RBR reserve)
• Isack Hadjar (VCARB seat)
• Ayumu Iwasa (VCARB reserve)

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Future Red Bull Prospect

One important talent to note is their 'next hot prospect', Arvid Lindblad. He is the young British-Swedish racing driver set to compete in F2 this year with Campos. Arvid is currently in New Zealand competing in the Oceania Championship, which should he win (he's won 5 out of 6 regular races there), would give him enough points to be able to apply for a super license.

Coupled with the recent dispensation request that you can now make for someone under 18 to drive an F1 car - thanks to the FIA rule change last year - this gives them a further option beyond the current drivers if needed.... Albeit, if everything goes perfectly to plan.

Both Helmet Marko and Christian Horner have been singing Arvid's praises and have been heavily involved behind the scenes of his career. Red Bull actually initially made the FIA request for the under-18 super license after the Miami Grand Prix last year, highlighting their plans for the youngster. 

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Stormy waters are on the horizon for Red Bull

Yuki Tsunoda and Honda

However, while on the surface all looks okay for Red Bull, there are some bigger issues facing the team with driver selections after casting both Daniel and Sergio away.

You see, Yuki’s involvement, as shown with the 2025 driver selection, is heavily linked to their engine supplier, Honda. It’s well documented that, as part of the deal to supply both teams with engines, they also have a driver of their choosing in one of those seats. This a Honda stipulation that many teams have found themselves faced with should they want to carry that Honda engine in the back of their cars.

With this deal in its final year before Honda departs for Aston Martin and Ford arrives at Red Bull, the Honda ties are coming to an end.

Tensions have been further heightened between the two parties as evidenced by Honda’s social media post saying goodbye to Checo and cutting Christian out of the shot.

This is then coupled with Red Bull ignoring calls for Yuki to be promoted, opting for Liam.

This means that Yuki’s post-2025 future with Red Bull is looking less secure, as his contract winds down and mounting speculation he may follow Honda to Aston Martin as a reserve.

FURTHERMORE, that speculation has not helped with the news this week that Audi is, in fact, targeting Aston Martin Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for their reserve role;

It all seems to point to this scenario being a real possibility. 

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Max Verstappen

On top of the Yuki and Honda dilemma, let's add into the mis the VERY public pursuit of Max by Mercedes and the 'behind the scenes' pursuit by Aston Martin. Obviously, with the high profile departures - most notably Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and Jonathan Wheatley to Audi - and the uncertainty of Red Bull producing their own engines for the first time, suddenly the unthinkable COULD happen.

Max could decide that another team represents his best chance of more glory and move.

The Red Bull driver line up looks considerably inexperienced and low on options.

This isn't to say that the team can’t do what they did with Sergio Perez and look outside of the pool. Theoretically, with Max no longer there the team wouldn't be short on options for an established driver to come in as their number one. Someone like Oscar Piastri, for example, may want to break away from Papaya rules at McLaren and fancy his chances as number 1 at Red Bull. Should this play out, Oscar’s manager IS Mark Webber with serious ties to Red Bull that may be a factor in it.

Alternatively, they could decide that Arvid is the future and make a case the same as they did when a young Max burst on the scene.

OR even go back to former Red Bull drivers on the grid who have rebuilt after being cut from the program as they did when they welcomed Daniel back to the team (Pierre Gasly or Alex Albon). 

Whichever way you look at it Red Bull - for the first time in a number of years - are at a crossroads with their driver lineup. Liam Lawson may welcome the lack of competition and opportunity to settle into the role as Max Verstappen’s teammate a luxury that many of his predecessors didn't get to experience. OR Yuki's choice as reserve driver could mean a REAL shot at the coveted Red Bull seat.

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We shall see how this season plays out!

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