Tsunoda tries to move forward
After five full seasons as a Formula 1 race driver, Yuki Tsunoda will be sitting on the sidelines in 2026. The Japanese driver has become the latest victim of that second Red Bull seat which has struggled to find stability for years. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko judged the average gap between the number 22 car and Max Verstappen to be too large, choosing to promote Isack Hadjar to the Milton Keynes team while Tsunoda will be moved to a reserve role.
Tsunoda’s words
Tsunoda explained that Red Bull delivered the news right after the Qatar Grand Prix, exactly as the team had warned him in advance. He said that the message came directly from Helmut Marko, adding: “I was told immediately after the race. It was Helmut who spoke to me. It was tough, but surprisingly I’m somehow okay: the next day I ordered the same breakfast and the same food. Maybe I haven’t fully realized yet that this will be my last race until the end of 2026, but that’s how it went. Maybe I’ll feel everything more deeply after Abu Dhabi”.
He continued by saying: “I will have a different perspective in 2026, because it will be the first time in my career that I won’t be racing. I’ll be able to see what every driver does, and maybe I’ll learn many things I never imagined, so I’m excited. And if an opportunity comes, I’ll grab it immediately”.
The Japanese driver also revealed that his profile had attracted interest from other teams, without specifying whether they were Formula 1 outfits. However, he said that he had to ignore any signals because of his commitment to Red Bull. He explained: “I had no choice, my contract was still valid and it didn’t allow me to speak with other teams. There were teams interested in me, but I couldn’t talk to them. That’s why I was fully focused on the season with Red Bull. Which, in any case, has been my priority in recent years. The Red Bull family is the place where I grew up”.
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