Rival F1 team principal is a ‘huge fan’ of Yuki Tsunoda and could give him Racing Bulls exit route

Yuki Tsunoda’s time with Racing Bulls may be coming to a natural end. At the end of the season, his backers Honda will split with the two Red Bull teams.

Honda are taking their engine supply elsewhere, instead linking up with Aston Martin. Red Bull will build their own Powertrains for F1’s new era.

Tsunoda’s ties to Honda played a major role in his landing an F1 seat. Thus, the impending departure of Japanese manufacturer casts doubt on his future.

What’s more, Red Bull have already made their views on the 24-year-old clear by picking former teammate Liam Lawson to partner Max Verstappen. Lawson only had 11 races of experience, but still got the nod to replace Sergio Perez.

That condemned Tsunoda to a fifth straight season with Racing Bulls. They were a competitive midfield outfit last year, scoring 46 points, but he wants more at this stage of his career.

Red Bull are ‘secretly’ expected to sign Arvid Lindblad in the near future. Given Tsunoda’s predicament, a Lindblad-Isack Hadjar line-up at the de facto junior team seems most likely for 2026.

Haas chief Ayao Komatsu is a strong admirer of Yuki Tsunoda

Speaking on The Race F1 podcast, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm assessed Tsunoda’s options should he leave the Red Bull stable. He may have to settle for a testing role next year in the hope of returning in 2027.

The alliance with Aston Martin could present an opportunity. But Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso are under contract for the next couple of years.

Then there’s Haas. They’ve just formed a technical partnership with Toyota, who might look to poach Tsunoda from Honda.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu is a ‘huge fan’, having tried to sign him during the 2025 driver market. That move didn’t come off, but Oliver Bearman’s anticipated move to Ferrari could facilitate it.

Mitchell-Malm said: “I think Tsunoda has two options, both of which I think end up with him on the sidelines in ’26 I’d imagine, with a view of getting back in the car for ’27. The more likely thing is the Honda link facilitates some kind of role at Aston Martin in a non-driving capacity.

“I also think there is a slim chance that Tsunoda ceases to be a Honda driver at some point over the next 18 months and could end up in the Toyota programme. Ayao Komatsu is a huge fan of Tsunoda and was interested in him for 2025. I could see Tsunoda ending up in a testing role at Haas, and then slotting in at Haas whenever Bearman goes to Ferrari.”

Christian Horner asked whether he’d finally promote Yuki Tsunoda if Liam Lawson doesn’t deliver

In theory, Tsunoda could have one final shot at becoming a Red Bull driver. He tested for the team for the first time in Abu Dhabi after the season had concluded.

Tsunoda impressed Red Bull with his feedback, though he didn’t have the chance to complete a headline-grabbing performance run. Around a week and a half later, the team confirmed Lawson had won the battle.

But what if the New Zealander struggles? Red Bull have been notoriously impatient with underperforming signings.

Horner will keep a ‘close eye’ on Tsunoda, but he stresses that Lawson is the team’s ‘priority’. They would only make a change if they viewed the former as an upgrade, and they clearly have major doubts.