Yuki Tsunoda has made a playful appeal to Formula 1 teams still finalising their 2027 driver line-ups after using his unexpected Dutch Grand Prix comeback to remind the paddock what he can do. The Japanese driver returned with Racing Bulls at Zandvoort and finished 11th, just one position outside the points despite having never previously driven a 2026 Formula 1 car on track.
Tsunoda was drafted back into F1 to replace Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls after Lawson moved temporarily to Red Bull in place of the injured Isack Hadjar. The late reshuffle handed Tsunoda a rare opportunity to put himself back in the shop window, and he made the most of it.
Yuki Tsunoda uses Zandvoort return to boost 2027 F1 chances
Expectations were understandably limited before the weekend. Yuki Tsunoda had never driven the new-generation 2026 cars outside the simulator, having watched the radically different regulations from the sidelines rather than experiencing them as a race driver.
The Sprint format made the challenge even greater, leaving him with very little practice time before competitive sessions began. Despite those circumstances, Tsunoda adapted quickly to the VCARB 03 and produced a solid weekend.
The comeback was triggered by Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, which set off a chain reaction across the two Red Bull teams.
Racing Bulls has also shown itself to be a relatively accessible car for its drivers this season. Otherwise, young talents such as Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson would likely have found it considerably harder to perform at their current level.
Tsunoda nevertheless had to exploit that opportunity himself. He secured 12th place in qualifying and then finished the Grand Prix 11th, narrowly missing out on the points.
Tsunoda tells F1 teams: ‘Call me, please’
After the race, the 2027 driver market naturally became part of the conversation. Tsunoda responded with a light-hearted message to teams still looking at their options for next season.
“If you want me, call me, please,” Yuki Tsunoda said when asked whether his Zandvoort performance might have attracted interest from teams searching for a driver.
He made clear, however, that the next stage of the process is largely outside his hands.
“It’s up to my manager and the teams looking for a driver. I know what I can do, and I think I’ve shown it to the paddock.”
The Japanese driver had already received support ahead of his surprise return, including a message from Isack Hadjar before the Zandvoort weekend. His performance then provided a more tangible reminder that he remains capable of competing at Formula 1 level.
Where could Yuki Tsunoda race in F1 in 2027?
Yuki Tsunoda is currently Red Bull’s reserve driver, but there appears to be no obvious full-time opening for him either at Red Bull or Racing Bulls. If he wants to return to the Formula 1 grid permanently in 2027, he may therefore need to move outside the Red Bull organisation.
Haas appears to be one of the more realistic possibilities, with the American team interested in having a Japanese driver. Such a move would, however, require Tsunoda to sever his long-standing sponsorship connection with Honda.
Competition for a potential seat currently occupied by Esteban Ocon is also intense. Ferrari is pushing Rafael Câmara as one of its candidates, while McLaren is supporting Leonardo Fornaroli.
That means a strong Zandvoort weekend alone will not guarantee Tsunoda a place on the 2027 grid. What it has done is give him something he had been missing while working as a reserve: a recent Formula 1 performance that teams can evaluate.
With almost no preparation, unfamiliar 2026 machinery and the additional pressure of a Sprint weekend, Yuki Tsunoda qualified 12th and finished one place short of the points. His joking request for teams to “call me” therefore came with a serious message behind it: he believes he has shown the paddock that he deserves another opportunity as a full-time Formula 1 driver.
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