After five seasons on the Formula 1 grid, Yuki Tsunoda steps away from a full-time race seat — but not out of the Red Bull family. The 25-year-old will remain with Red Bull in 2026 as a reserve driver while Isack Hadjar moves up from Racing Bulls and Arvid Lindblad graduates from Formula 2. Across 111 Grands Prix Tsunoda scored 124 points, with a career-best P4 at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
On-track triumphs
Tsunoda’s rise was rapid — from Japanese F4 to F1 in under four years. Backed by Honda’s Formula Dream Project in 2016, he joined the Red Bull junior programme and raced in the 2020 F2 Championship with Carlin. He finished as the top rookie in third overall, claiming three wins, four poles and seven podiums; a decisive victory in the final Bahrain round earned him enough Super Licence points to reach F1 in 2021.
He quickly made a name for himself with bold overtakes, an aggressive style and raw pace. Franz Tost, his former AlphaTauri team principal, described Tsunoda as a modern driver who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to drive on the edge. That approach produced an eye-catching debut in Bahrain 2021, where he battled his way to P9 and points. Abu Dhabi 2021 produced his best result, and despite a difficult 2022 season when AlphaTauri’s pace dropped off, Tsunoda gained experience that proved valuable in later years.
The rebranded Racing Bulls in 2023–24 tested many drivers Tsunoda was expected to beat — and he largely did, finishing ahead of teammates such as Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson in the standings. He also delivered standout qualifying form, notably P3 in tricky wet conditions at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix. In 2025 he earned a quick promotion into Red Bull’s second seat but was unable to match team-mate Max Verstappen’s pace consistently, prompting the team to seek alternatives for 2026. Even so, Tsunoda produced several determined drives that kept fans engaged.
Social butterfly
Arriving as the grid’s youngest driver in 2021, Tsunoda adapted fast to life in the paddock and became a popular figure among peers and crew. He formed genuine bonds with many teammates and created a positive, light-hearted presence in the garage. His friendship with Pierre Gasly earned particular attention — the pair’s on- and off-track rapport, karaoke in Tokyo and playful social content made them a fan-favourite pairing.
Tsunoda also shared fun moments with other team-mates: padel and parade antics with Verstappen, TikToks with Hadjar and Lawson, and a warm public farewell to Ricciardo when the Australian left F1. His approachable energy resonated with fans, mechanics and occasional celebrity visitors alike.
Yuki’s special style
Tsunoda’s creativity often shows up in his helmet art. Notable lids include a Honda tribute at the 2021 Abu Dhabi race, a Kabuki-inspired design for his 2025 home race at Suzuka, and a collaboration with the video game Valorant for the 2024 Spa weekend. Off-track he mixes sporty team kit with a casual, fashionable paddock look — backwards caps, sunglasses, double denim and graphic tees — and has drawn attention at events such as the F1 Movie premiere in New York.
Yuki: Unfiltered
Known for a thin filter on team radio, Tsunoda’s expletive-flecked reactions became a hallmark of his broadcasts, often forcing broadcasters to bleep moments of raw emotion. Those candid bursts revealed a fierce competitive drive and passion for racing that fed into his media work and helped build his fanbase.
This shift to a reserve role isn’t necessarily an exit from F1. History shows drivers can return after time out of the seat: Alex Albon’s post-drop move back into a race seat and Valtteri Bottas’s reinvigorated performances after reserve duties are recent examples. With dedication, simulator work and some fortune, Tsunoda could well find his way back onto the grid — and while his full-time race future is uncertain, his impact on and off track in his first five seasons is clear.