Helmut Marko favourite now ‘on his way’ to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull for the 2026 F1 season

Yuki Tsunoda is battling to keep his Red Bull seat beyond the 2025 season. The Japanese driver replaced Liam Lawson after just two races.

The New Zealander failed to score points in the opening two Grand Prix as Lawson lost total confidence driving the RB21. Tsunoda, who was also scoreless after Melbourne and Shanghai, was showing more encouraging performances with Racing Bulls.

Red Bull made the driver swap at the Japanese GP – Tsunoda’s home race. After arriving at the Milton Keynes outfit, the 25-year-old stated ambitions to beat teammate Max Verstappen, which no Red Bull driver has done since 2017.

Five races on from his debut and the Japanese driver has proved to be an improvement on Lawson. Tsunoda has scored seven points since joining Red Bull and has been able to get his RB21 into Q3, which his predecessor failed to do.

However, those results are still not convincing for a team that is fighting for the championship, in Red Bull’s own words. Tsunoda is not meeting ‘low standards’ at the team, with ‘no one’ expecting him to match Verstappen’s results.

While the four-time champion is in contention for a fifth consecutive title, his teammate is again struggling to cope with the nature of the car. Tsunoda must improve at Red Bull, especially when other drivers within their setup are making an impression.

Isack Hadjar is ‘on his way’ to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull in 2026

Tsunoda is contracted until 2025, putting not only his Red Bull career in jeopardy, but also his future in F1. There are several drivers within the team that are eyeing the second seat next to Verstappen.

It is highly unlikely that Lawson will return to Red Bull, with his F1 future also looking uncertain as he struggles to perform at Racing Bulls. Teammate Isack Hadjar is also out of contract this year, but the rookie is certainly making an impression.

Since his heartbreak on his F1 debut in Melbourne, the Frenchman has responded brilliantly. Hadjar has regularly got his VCARB 02 into Q3 and has challenged for points at almost every weekend, scoring seven from the first seven events.

The 20-year-old has gained the support of Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko, which is critical for his chances of joining the team. Likening him to a ‘mini Alain Prost’, Marko has been impressed with Hadjar’s consistency at new circuits, something ‘many newcomers struggle with’.

Hadjar certainly will not turn down an opportunity to join the main team. In a report from sport.de, journalist Felix Gorner says the Frenchman is ‘on his way’ to join Red Bull, as he has ‘everything Marko wants’, from assertiveness to consistency.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

What are Yuki Tsunoda’s options if he does leave Red Bull in 2026?

Jacques Villeneuve has warned Tsunoda he could lose his seat ‘soon’ if he fails to grab strong results for Red Bull. Last time out at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Japanese driver recovered to P10 after starting from the pit lane.

But the Milton Keynes outfit will be expecting more from the 25-year-old if he is to stay in 2026. While his drive at Imola was impressive, his weekend was jeopardised after Tsunoda crashed heavily in Q1.

With Hadjar’s performances at Racing Bulls, the pressure is on Tsunoda to save his seat. If he leaves the team come the end of the year, there are limited options available.

Aston Martin have been linked with the 25-year-old, given they will run with Honda engines in 2026. The Japanese manufacturer are Tsunoda’s biggest backers, but the Silverstone outfit does not have a seat available, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll contracted until next year.

Cadillac were also reportedly interested in Tsunoda, but that rumour has since gone cold, with F1’s 11th team looking at the likes of Sergio Perez, Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher as possible candidates. The Japanese driver will likely be off the grid if he is dropped by Red Bull.