Tsunoda shakes up management amid Red Bull snub

Yuki Tsunoda has made a bold move to reshape his career trajectory, parting ways with his long-time management team after missing out on a coveted promotion to Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Racing Bulls driver, previously guided by Mario Miyakawa and Luis Alvarez, severed ties with both shortly after the 2024 season concluded in December.

In their place, Tsunoda has brought on Mexican advisor Diego Menchaca, a former single-seater racer turned sportscar driver, who is now transitioning to full-time driver management.

Tsunoda’s decision came on the heels of Red Bull’s choice to elevate Liam Lawson over him to partner Max Verstappen, despite Tsunoda’s strong 2024 performance.

The 24-year-old Japanese driver, who finished a career-best 12th in the standings, had consistently outperformed his previous Racing Bulls teammates – Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo, and Lawson himself.

Yet, Red Bull never seriously considered him for the main squad, a decision that reportedly prompted Tsunoda to seek fresh guidance to bolster his future prospects.

A New Partnership with High Hopes

Speaking in Bahrain on Thursday, Tsunoda confirmed the change.

“I am not working [with] Mario anymore, and Luis as well. I’m really happy with Diego,” he told Motorsport.com.

“He’s motivated, definitely. Once we decided to work together, he immediately went to Helmut’s [Marko, Red Bull advisor] office to build a relationship. That kind of effort, I really appreciate—and obviously, Helmut did too.”

“They already have a good relationship, which is a good start. But in the end, the most important thing is to perform on track, which will make Diego’s life easier.”

Menchaca, who finished runner-up in the International GT Open in 2023, brings a racer’s perspective to his new role.

For Tsunoda, the partnership is a calculated step to strengthen his position within the Red Bull ecosystem, particularly with Marko, whose influence on driver selections is well-known.

Racing Bulls’ High Expectations

As Tsunoda enters his fifth F1 season – all with Red Bull’s sister outfit – he’ll lead the squad alongside rookie Isack Hadjar. The team’s faith in his growth is evident, with Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies lauding his progress during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

“Yuki last year did a step I think none of us was expecting,” Mekies said.

“[He] did a big step forward in terms of speed, in terms of maturity, in terms of technical feedback—and I think if there is another step like that in Yuki this year, it’s going to be really, really interesting!

éSo in terms of what would a good year look like for him, it’s to see another step of the same magnitude of what we’ve seen last year.”

An Uncertain Future Looms

Despite the optimism, Tsunoda’s long-term future remains murky. Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner has openly questioned whether it “makes sense” to retain Tsunoda if he’s not in contention for a senior seat by year’s end.

If Red Bull releases him, options are slim – Haas and Sauber, both previously linked, have since finalized their lineups for the coming years.

An opportunity to join Aston Martin, which will be powered by Honda, Tsunoda’s benefactor, also seems remote given the unlikely propect of Team Silverstone changing its current line-up.

For now, the Japanese charger’s focus is clear: deliver on-track results to justify his new management’s efforts and secure his place in F1 beyond 2025.

With Menchaca in his corner, the Japanese star is banking on a fresh start to finally catch Red Bull’s eye—or pave a new path elsewhere.

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