Background on Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, a talented Japanese Formula 1 driver, has been part of the Red Bull Racing family since his debut in F2. His rise through the ranks caught the attention of many, including Red Bull’s top brass. Tsunoda’s journey with Red Bull began in 2019 when he joined their junior single-seater programs, eventually earning a spot in Formula 2 with Hitech Racing. His impressive performances led to a contract with Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2021 season, which is Red Bull’s sister team.
Red Bull’s Driver Lineup Changes
As the 2025 season concluded, Red Bull Racing announced significant changes to their driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Yuki Tsunoda was informed that he would be replaced by Isak Hadjar, while Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad would form the Racing Bulls team.
Tsunoda’s Reaction to the Decision
In an interview with DAZN Japan, Tsunoda expressed his surprise at the sudden decision. He had heard rumors about maintaining a position within the Red Bull family just before being informed of his replacement.
“I was told after the Qatar race, but honestly, I didn’t believe it at first. I had prepared for that possibility, but the news was different from what I had heard before. I thought there might have been a last-minute change to the decision just before my information session. When they told me I wouldn’t have a permanent seat for the upcoming year, it didn’t feel like the world was ending,” Tsunoda said.
Red Bull’s CEO on the Decision
New Red Bull Racing CEO, Laurent Mekies, acknowledged the difficulty in making the decision to demote Tsunoda. However, he expressed confidence that Tsunoda could return to the grid in the future.
Following Sergio Pérez’s departure from Red Bull at the end of 2024, Liam Lawson was promoted to join Max Verstappen in the main Red Bull team. After a challenging start to the season, Lawson returned to Racing Bulls as part of a seat swap with Tsunoda. Unfortunately, Tsunoda’s 2025 campaign proved to be difficult, with a 17th-place finish in the Drivers’ Championship and his best result being sixth place in Azerbaijan.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Yuki Tsunoda? Yuki Tsunoda is a Japanese Formula 1 driver who has been part of the Red Bull Racing family since his debut in Formula 2. He raced for Scuderia AlphaTauri (Red Bull’s sister team) in the 2021 season.
- Why was Yuki Tsunoda replaced by Isak Hadjar? Red Bull Racing announced changes to their driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Yuki Tsunoda being replaced by Isak Hadjar. The decision was reportedly difficult for Red Bull’s new CEO, Laurent Mekies, but he expressed confidence in Tsunoda’s future return to the sport.
- What were Tsunoda’s performances in the 2025 season? Tsunoda had a challenging 2025 campaign, finishing 17th in the Drivers’ Championship. His best result was a sixth-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
