After five turbulent seasons in F1, Yuki Tsunoda’s time as a race driver comes to a close, at least for now. Red Bull confirmed on Tuesday that Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen in the senior team from 2026 onwards.
Racing Bulls will welcome 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad alongside Liam Lawson, which leaves the Japanese driver without a place on the starting grid for the first time since his debut.
Tsunoda’s story is not over yet. Red Bull have retained him as their reserve and test driver, which ensures his presence in the paddock. Did Honda ties play a role in the move?
A Season That Slipped Away
Tsunoda’s 2025 campaign never quite stabilised. Originally he signed for another full year with Racing Bulls. After just two races, Lawson got demoted from the main team in a direct swap with Tsunoda. For the Honda-backed driver, it was an opportunity some drivers spend a lifetime waiting for. Stepping into the place of Verstappen’s teammate is perhaps the most unforgiving test in the pinnacle of motorsport currently.
While Verstappen continuously scores double digits, Tsunoda struggled to match the reigning champion’s consistency and outright pace. The comparison was brutal, and the pressure intensified. By the summer break, the speculations had already started swirling about Lawson, Hadjar and even Lindblad. With the three names on the table and Verstappen going nowhere, it was apparent that there would be an odd one out.
Tsunoda Stays in Red Bull Family
Tsunoda shifts into a reserve role in a strategic move for Red Bull. From 2026, the Milton Keynes team will debut their own power units. Yet, they rely on Honda engines for testing older machinery under the TPC programme. Maintaining a strong relationship with the manufacturer benefits all parties. That’s where Tsunoda plays an important part for the Japanese company.
For his own career, remaining active within a team keeps him visible in the F1 paddock. Many drivers chose a similar route with a promise of a seat later. Recently, Valtteri Bottas filled the role of Mercedes reserve driver. Staying on the sideline helped him to get needed mileage and prove his value. For 2026, he comes back as a full-season driver for Cadillac. His teammate will be another Red Bull-fired driver, Sergio Pérez.
As Formula 1 prepares for a major technical shakeup next year with a fresh set of regulations, there may yet be space for a quick comeback. With Verstappen being vocal about a possible retirement if the car isn’t up to his standards, not all doors are closed for Tsunoda.
Pressure on Hadjar’s Head
Stepping into the seat Tsunoda vacates is 21-year-old Isack Hadjar, whose rookie season with Racing Bulls has been one of the standout stories of 2025. In machinery that is inferior to top teams in Formula 1, he has shown racecraft and even claimed his first podium in the Dutch GP.
His promotion, though expected, thrusts him into one of the sport’s most demanding environments. The second Red Bull seat has a reputation for swallowing talents. Pérez, Lawson and Tsunoda are the latest drivers with their confidence shaken by the team.
If Hadjar can adapt quickly to a new car built under the 2026 regulations, he may become the first young driver in years to hold his candle alongside Verstappen.
A Teenager Partners Lawson
Liam Lawson’s journey through the Red Bull system has been far from linear. After replacing Pérez in Red Bull for 2025 and then losing the seat early in 2025, he had to prove himself all over again. Though his return to Racing Bulls was rocky, he rebuilt his momentum through the year and secured his place for 2026.
His new teammate, at just 18, will be Arvid Lindblad. Despite the grid expanding to 12 teams, he will be the only rookie set to debut next season. The British-Swedish driver has risen through the junior ranks quickly. His results granted him Red Bull backing, even in his current F2 season. This partnership – along with his results – helped him get the superlicence needed for an F1 outing.
Never Ending Circle at Red Bull
Tsunoda may not be lining up on the grid in 2026, but his presence in the sport remains meaningful. With access to testing, backing from Honda, and Red Bull branding behind him, his F1 journey is far from being over.
Besides the stable presence of Verstappen, Hadjar, Lawson and Lindblad will have to fight for their place in the family and deliver results. With a new regulatory era coming to F1 next year, question marks remain over all of their heads. A new opportunity could appear for Tsunoda in a heartbeat.