Yuki Tsunoda's dream of cementing his place in Formula 1 is far from over, but the once-promising path back to Red Bull Racing now appears blocked. After struggling to deliver the results expected of him during his brief stint with the Red Bull senior team in 2025, Tsunoda’s hopes of a full-time race seat have dimmed, despite his undeniable talent and dedication behind the scenes.
Tsunoda’s ascent to Red Bull’s top tier was highly anticipated after four seasons with their sister outfit, but the 22-year-old managed only 30 points across 22 Grands Prix, a tally that fell short of the high standards demanded by the team. Despite his belief that he had done enough to maintain his place, the Japanese driver was unceremoniously demoted to a reserve driver role, while Isack Hadjar was promoted to take his seat—an unmistakable signal that Red Bull has moved on.
However, Tsunoda’s value to the team remains significant. He is now heavily involved in the development of Red Bull’s new RB22 car, leveraging his intimate knowledge of both Red Bull and AlphaTauri machinery to aid engineers in refining their designs. Yet, as team principal Laurent Mekies pointed out, being a reserve driver is a frustrating limbo for any racer. Mekies emphasizes that Tsunoda has demonstrated the raw speed and skill necessary to race at the top level and deserves another chance behind the wheel, just not with Red Bull.
“Yuki is doing a great job with us, not only as a reserve driver, but also as a simulator driver,” Mekies explained on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “It’s great to have somebody that has such deep, recent experience of the car that can help us behind the scenes. Of course, we wish for him that there is an opportunity that comes soon because racing drivers are meant to race. And that’s what we wish for Yuki.”
Mekies acknowledged Red Bull’s own struggles with delivering consistent performance from their second driver spot, hinting that the team is learning from past mistakes and striving to improve. “It’s fair to say that Yuki has shown significant speed in the past and we wish for him that another opportunity comes along the way.”
While Tsunoda’s future at Red Bull is uncertain, his replacement, Isack Hadjar, is making waves. After a single season with AlphaTauri, the Frenchman has impressed with his rapid adaptation to the Red Bull machinery. His debut race in Australia saw him pushing for a podium before an engine failure dashed his hopes. Nevertheless, he scored points in China and maintained consistent top-ten qualifying performances, signaling a promising career ahead.
Mekies praised Hadjar’s dedication and hunger to succeed. “Isack is in a great place right now. He has done, I think, everything he could have done to maximise his integration with the team. He moved to London in the early days of January. He’s at the factory every other day. He spends as much time as he can in the simulator, trying to understand all the engineering parts around the car. He has been as keen as you can be.”
The team principal also revealed Hadjar’s extraordinary commitment, including flying back and forth between testing sessions just to squeeze in extra simulator work. “But the truth is, he’s not making an effort, that’s what he loves to do. He has been living, dreaming about that moment for a long time, and for him, it’s his dream.”
Hadjar’s meteoric rise was underlined by a stunning P3 in qualifying at his first race with Red Bull in Melbourne, setting high expectations for the rest of the season. Mekies remains confident that the young driver will continue to develop and deliver results as the year progresses.
With Tsunoda sidelined but still hungry, and Hadjar seizing his chance with both hands, the dynamic within Red Bull Racing is shifting dramatically. Tsunoda’s path back to the grid may not run through the team that brought him up, but his talent and resilience could open doors elsewhere in the fiercely competitive world of Formula 1. One thing is certain: the racing world will be watching closely to see if Tsunoda can reclaim a seat and prove the doubters wrong.
