It seemed as though Yuki Tsunoda was being relieved of a burden when Red Bull communicated that he wouldn’t feature in their future strategies – at least, not as a driver – from 2026. The elevation of Isack Hadjar to the main team, the continuation of Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, and Arvid Lindblad’s advancement into F1 has effectively sidelined Tsunoda.
This outcome was largely anticipated, yet it still felt as though Tsunoda was being positioned for failure. Limited opportunities with a vehicle known for its challenging handling characteristics placed Tsunoda at a disadvantage, and in today’s tightly contested environment, a mere 0.3-0.4s gap to a teammate vying for the championship can often determine whether one contends for pole position or is eliminated in Q2.
Tsunoda was accurate in pointing out the improvements in his recent race pace, but his qualifying results consistently left him with significant ground to make up on Sundays – and he lacked the extraordinary ability that Max Verstappen possesses to navigate through the field.
The problem is partly attributable to setup; Tsunoda struggled to pilot the Red Bull RB21 in the manner it demanded, and the necessary setup adjustments to make it manageable compromised its core strengths. It was a mismatch of styles; Red Bull now hopes that Hadjar can fill the gap and provide a greater challenge to Verstappen.
Understandably, Tsunoda was – and remains – disappointed. “I’m coping,” he mentioned, acknowledging that the F1 landscape would continue to evolve without him, yet it still represents a painful setback.
“I’m clearly let down and frustrated,” Tsunoda expressed during his initial media briefing since the announcement. “The manner in which I was informed – it was immediately after the race, in private by Helmut, that I won’t be racing next year, so that’s that.
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
“But I’m surprisingly alright… well, not entirely, but I’m coping reasonably well. The following day, I ordered breakfast in the morning as usual, the same meal. Perhaps I haven’t fully internalized that this will be the last race for this year, or at least for next year, so maybe I’ll feel it more after Abu Dhabi, but yes, that’s how it unfolded and how I’m currently feeling.”
In the coming year, Tsunoda will take on a reserve role with the team. Previously, Alex Albon at Red Bull managed to leverage his transition to a reserve role into a Williams seat in 2022, and Valtteri Bottas will follow a similar path next year by joining the new Cadillac team after serving as Mercedes’ reserve for a year.
Tsunoda implied that his presence on the grid could have been extended, but his existing Red Bull agreement turned out to be a complication. This is reminiscent of a similar situation experienced by former Red Bull junior Jaime Alguersuari, who was released by Toro Rosso at the conclusion of 2011 – after he had declined discussions with other teams, believing he would remain with the team for 2012.
“Well, my options were limited, the issue was my contractual situation, so I couldn’t do much,” he explained. “There was some external interest, but the contract didn’t really allow me to engage in talks with them. That’s why I was fully committed to the Red Bull season; it had been my priority for the past few years to be within the Red Bull framework because it’s where I developed as a driver.”
So, what are the future prospects? Tsunoda at least has a means of maintaining his livelihood with his Red Bull reserve position, and potential TPC tests should ensure he remains connected to the sport.
This was a benefit afforded to Albon during his 2021 year away from racing, notably demonstrated by his track running at Silverstone shortly after the collision between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at Copse during the British Grand Prix. Albon was instructed to experiment with different racing lines at the Northamptonshire circuit following that event to provide ‘evidence’ for Red Bull, which was appealing for a stricter penalty against Hamilton. It’s unlikely the team will attempt that approach again, as it was dismissed by the stewards…
Albon turned his Red Bull reserve gig into a Williams seat in 2022
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Opportunities should arise for Tsunoda in 2027. His connection to Honda could make him a candidate for Aston Martin, and he’d also be a potential option for any midfield team seeking an experienced driver – again, Albon’s successful period with Williams has proven that a return to F1 is achievable.
Should Red Bull or Racing Bulls require a replacement due to injury or underperformance, Tsunoda will be available to step in – as Daniel Ricciardo did in 2023 when he replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri (which subsequently led to Lawson’s debut at Zandvoort).
Tsunoda may also consider expanding his horizons. Again, using Albon as an example, the Thai driver competed for a year in DTM with a Red Bull-supported AF Corse Ferrari, alongside Lawson – so a last-minute agreement could be reached in another series for 2026. IndyCar was briefly mentioned as a possible destination, and maintaining ties with Honda could open doors elsewhere – perhaps in Super Formula or with Acura in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
However, these options only seem feasible if Tsunoda relinquishes his ambition to compete in F1. The Japanese driver, perhaps something of a racing traditionalist, would prefer to depart F1 on his own terms – and that involves finding his way back into a race seat.
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– The Autosport.com Team
