Yuki Tsunoda, who has been part of the Formula 1 grid since 2021, will not be taking part in next season’s opener in Australia. He has been moved into a reserve role by Red Bull.
Yuki Tsunoda will not line up on the grid for the opening race of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Australia after Red Bull reassigned him to a reserve driver role. The Japanese driver has competed in F1 continuously since 2021, but his brief and underwhelming spell with the senior Red Bull team in 2025 ultimately left him without a full-time seat. Despite replacing Liam Lawson after just two races, Tsunoda scored only 30 points across 22 race weekends — fewer than either Racing Bulls driver.
With Isack Hadjar quickly establishing himself as Max Verstappen’s preferred teammate for 2026, and Lawson’s extension plus Arvid Lindblad’s promotion blocking a return to Faenza, Tsunoda appeared to be out of options. However, speaking recently, the 25-year-old suggested Red Bull’s plans changed late — and hinted that his role next year may not be limited to reserve duties alone.
Tsunoda says Red Bull changed plans at the last moment
Speaking to DAZN via Motorsport, Tsunoda admitted that the news came as a shock, suggesting he had previously been given a different impression about his future. He believes Red Bull altered their decision shortly before informing him.
“I was told after the Qatar race, but honestly, it didn’t seem real at first,” Tsunoda said. “I had prepared myself for this possibility, but the news was different from what I had been told before, so it was a surprise. I heard that the decision may have changed just before it reached me.”
It is widely believed that Red Bull retained Tsunoda partly to preserve their relationship with Honda, as they continue to rely on access to ground-effect cars for their TPC programme while preparing their own power units for 2026. Despite the disappointment, Tsunoda said the news did not derail his focus during the final race in Abu Dhabi, where Red Bull still needed his support in the title fight involving Lando Norris.
‘There’s a chance’ Tsunoda could race again in 2026
Crucially, Tsunoda hinted that his 2026 role may extend beyond simulator work and reserve appearances. “There’s a chance that next year won’t be limited to just simulator work and being a reserve driver,” he said. “I’ve heard about a few possible scenarios.”
While Tsunoda did not elaborate, speculation suggests he could be first in line should Red Bull need a mid-season replacement — a scenario the team has not shied away from in the past, most notably when Daniel Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries in 2023. Tsunoda has also claimed he was disadvantaged in 2025 by running an older specification car than Verstappen, costing him crucial tenths in a tightly packed field.
Despite losing his seat, Tsunoda remains upbeat about the future. “I’m only 25, so there’s a lot of room for improvement,” he said. “This is just the beginning. Maybe a chapter is ending, but I’m excited to see how I can evolve from here.”
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies echoed that sentiment in his final radio message to Tsunoda after Abu Dhabi, thanking him for his efforts “until the last lap.” Whether that lap proves to be Tsunoda’s last in Formula 1 remains uncertain — but by his own admission, the door is not completely closed.
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