Hiroki Tsunoda: Is Esteban Ocon a teammate for RB F1?[F1-Gate.com]

Who will likely be Hiroki Tsunoda’s teammate in 2025? BEYOND THE FLAG has introduced three candidates, together with Esteban Ocon, who’s leaving the Alpine F1 Workforce. Purple Bull have been busy finalizing their driver line-up for the 2025 season and just lately determined to maintain Yuki Tsunoda at RB for 2025.

A one-year contract extension could be eligible for Hiroki Tsunoda, and there’s nonetheless the opportunity of a transfer to Aston Martin with Honda in 2026. Three of the 4 seats within the Purple Bull household have been confirmed for subsequent season, leaving only one empty There are a number of choices that Laurent Mequise, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have to think about. There are three potentialities right here. 1. Daniel Ricciardo Since Daniel Ricciardo left Purple Bull six years in the past, issues haven’t gone effectively for him. Thankfully, he was given a lifeline in F1 by Purple Bull after he was changed by Nick de Vries at AlphaTauri (now RB) halfway by the 2023 season. Ricciardo attributable to damage gave Liam Lawson an opportunity to show himself by doing effectively in his few alternatives. As Purple Bull attempt to resolve who will likely be Hiroki Tsunoda’s team-mate in 2025, these two names are the frontrunners. Ricciardo has rotated this season in Canada after a tough begin. Ricciardo, 34, is in a very good place to remain at RB attributable to his constant operating and pace. 2. Liam Lawson Liam Lawson was a star for AlphaTauri final season, racing after Daniel Ricciardo was injured. Lawson was anticipated to interchange Ricciardo within the 2024 season, however that didn’t occur. Lawson stays Purple Bull’s reserve driver. Helmut Marko has admitted that the battle for the ultimate seat between Ricciardo and Lawson will likely be very intense, calling it a “shootout”. Given the significance of this choice to Purple Bull and RB’s higher echelons, it’s unlikely to be made till a lot later within the season. If Lawson will not be chosen for 2025, Purple Bull dangers dropping him to a different crew on the grid. This can be a large danger and signifies that when Sergio Perez’s new contract expires on the finish of the 2026 season, they may have the chance to advertise the 22-year-old driver to the highest crew alongside Max Verstappen. The signing of Lawson to interchange Ricciardo might have a domino impact. Ricciardo is 12 years older than Lawson, so Purple Bull might select to think about his future. However on the identical time, there may very well be a fierce battle between Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, who might goal to be Verstappen’s new teammate for the following two years. 3. Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon has introduced his departure from Alpine, however is unlikely to affix the operating again as Purple Bull are more likely to keep in till their final hole to fill in for the 2025 season. Nonetheless, do not rule out the opportunity of Ocon racing alongside Hiroki Tsunoda subsequent yr. The French driver needs a quicker automobile than the one he makes use of at Alpine and the RB has simply that, with good tempo and outcomes from Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo just lately. Ocon has confirmed himself to be an excellent driver many occasions up to now, most just lately rising from 18th on the grid to ninth in one of many slowest vehicles on the grid in Canada. So, if Helmut Marko thinks Ricciardo hasn’t lived as much as expectations and Liam Lawson is lacking one thing, Ocon may very well be the primary driver Purple Bull turns to fill the hole. Nonetheless, the 27-year-old’s temperament may very well be an issue with the issues the groups and drivers round him have had just lately. Ocon hasn’t essentially stepped up in his discipline since coming to F1. Additionally, on the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen resisted and made contact when he handed a caught Ocon, and Verstappen was indignant and criticized Ocon, calling him a “large fool”. there was with him within the FIA ​​storage after the race.