How Yuki Tsunoda could create a ‘window’ of opportunity for Franco Colapinto in 2026

Yuki Tsunoda will stay at RB next season after Liam Lawson was chosen to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull.

Perez floundered at Red Bull this season, and the Mexican driver didn’t score a podium finish after the Chinese Grand Prix back in April.

It came down to a decision between Tsunoda and Lawson, and the Kiwi was selected to partner Max Verstappen despite having considerably less experience than his former RB teammate.

Red Bull lost ground in the Constructors’ Championship due to Perez’s issues, slumping to third and failing to defend the title.

As Lawson steps in at Red Bull, Tsunoda is staying with the Italian team, which could open the door for Franco Colapinto in 2026.

Yuki Tsunoda may leave the Red Bull programme in 2026 as Honda are joining Aston Martin

Honda has helped Tsunoda as they developed the Japanese driver throughout his junior career before joining AlphaTauri in 2021.

The Japanese manufacturer has been supplying engines to Red Bull since 2019, although they will leave to partner with Aston Martin in 2026.

Red Bull’s lack of Japanese influence may help Colapinto get onto the grid, as the team may have less support for Tsunoda.

READ MORE: Five races in 2024 that convinced Red Bull to sack Sergio Perez

Fox Sports Argentina journalist Adrian Puente explained that Honda’s switch to Aston Martin could help Colapinto find a spot on the grid after he impressed at times during his nine-race stint at Williams.

He said on Fox Sports Argentina: “Red Bull is going with [Isack] Hadjar because the owner of the circus [Dr Helmut Marko] is a tough man.

“There is a margin, and look, only one window remains open where the question mark until yesterday was Yuki Tsunoda. Honda goes away to Aston Martin, and then all the Japanese influence is lost. It is lost, and another window opens in 2026.”

The Argentine looks set to miss out on a race seat at the start of next season, but Flavio Briatore is interested in Colapinto for 2026.

Franco Colapinto would need to eliminate the crashes if he returns to the F1 grid

Colapinto drove well at times during his nine Formula 1 races but suffered some heavy impacts in Brazil and Las Vegas, in particular.

Williams had already been hindered by incidents earlier in the season, and Colapinto’s incidents added to the effect. The British team is one of the smaller outfits on the grid and have fewer resources than some others.

These incidents would need to be cut out as Colapinto would have a lot more expectations on him if he returns, as he has driven in F1 previously.

Colapinto showed he had speed behind the wheel despite having little track time before his debut. His large sponsorship portfolio may also appeal to teams on the F1 grid. His sponsors have already helped Williams when they struck a deal with the Argentine company Mercado Libre.