Red Bull Regret Parting Ways With “Checo” Pérez and Are Already Planning to Say Goodbye to the Driver Who Took His Place in Formula 1

Red Bull can’t find a solution for their second Formula 1 seat. After parting ways with Checo Pérez and Yuki Tsunoda’s poor performance, Laurent Mekies reveals his top priority: rescuing the Japanese driver before it’s too late.

Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda crisis

The saga of Red Bull’s second seat continues to grow. With Max Verstappen securing his future with the team, new team boss Laurent Mekies admitted that his “priority” is to get Yuki Tsunoda back to his best. The Japanese driver, who joined the main team this year after four seasons with Racing Bulls, has scored just 10 points, raising alarm bells about his performance.

According to The Mirror, the problem with the second seat is nothing new. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, the seat next to Verstappen has become a cursed position. Pierre Gasly lasted just half a season before being demoted; Alex Albon managed a year and a half; and Sergio Pérez, despite winning five races and delivering Red Bull’s first-ever one-two championship finish in 2023, was axed after a winless 2024 season.

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A seat nobody can keep

The 2025 season has only made the crisis worse. Liam Lawson raced just twice before being replaced by Tsunoda, who has failed to get anywhere near Verstappen in pace or results. For Mekies, the mission is clear: “We need Yuki to feel comfortable and competitive. That’s our priority.”

With the championship in full swing and the pressure mounting to find a reliable teammate for Verstappen, Red Bull’s second seat remains one of the most difficult — and short-lived — jobs in Formula 1.