Yuki Tsunoda enters what could be his final season with Racing Bulls in 2025, now that they will be splitting with Honda for 2026.
The Japanese driver was in the seat because of his ties to the car maker, with Honda now set to link up with Aston Martin for F1’s big rule change in 2026.
Red Bull has made their views clear by signing 24-year-old Liam Lawson instead of him, although Christian Horner has said that he intends to keep a close eye on Tsunoda’s performances.
Tsunoda is now set to be the experienced driver at Racing Bulls alongside rookie teammate Isack Hadjar for this season. Given that Red Bull’s young driver programme encompasses a lot of other categories in the junior formula championships, there is sometimes a bit of overlap.
Tsunoda recalls the time he first met Hadjar through a promotional event when he was competing in Formula 3 and the Frenchman was just 14 years old.
Yuki Tsunoda was once a driving coach for Isack Hadjar
Tsunoda came through the junior formula ranks just a few years before Hadjar made his F4 debut in 2018, and told a story of how he first met the Japanese driver when speaking to Racing Bulls.
“I’m still getting to know Isack but I know he has done a really good job in the junior categories, especially in Formula 2 last year. I think I met him for the first time in 2018, when there was a collaboration between the French federation (FFSA) and the Honda Junior Programme,” said Tsunoda.
“Isack came to Suzuka for a Honda selection process and I was already a Honda driver and it was my job to be a sort of coach for the others. It’s funny that several years later we are going to be teammates!”
Hadjar also recalled the funny moment nearly six years ago at the Suzuka circuit: “It was about five and a half years ago and he was racing in the FIA F3 Championship at the time and I was in my first season of F4, I was 14 years old.”
Yuki Tsunoda could drop off F1 grid after 2025
Tsunoda has had the edge over his Racing Bull’s teammates so far in the last 12 months, although much of that was to be expected against Lawson having spent 18 races in the car already.
The higher-ups at Red Bull do not think Tsunoda has the mental strength to go up against Max Verstappen in the main team, whereas Lawson has demonstrated that he can earn a result.
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Tsunoda has been told to tone down his messages on team radio and listen to Oscar Piastri, who comes across more calmly.
It is possible that Tsunoda could drop off the grid at the end of 2025, given that he’s in the final year of his current deal after extending it for one year.
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