Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda is potentially one of the most at-risk drivers on the Formula 1 grid this season.
The Red Bull environment has always been cut-throat, but up to this point, Yuki Tsunoda has survived four Formula 1 campaigns and is set to begin a fifth as Racing Bulls’ senior driver.
If you were to ask Tsunoda and his camp, they wouldn’t say that he’s just survived but thrived.
Over the past two seasons, the Japanese driver has outdriven Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson.
However, when it became clear that Red Bull would be dropping Sergio Perez, it was Lawson who was promoted instead of Tsunoda despite his lack of experience.
Tsunoda signed a new contract at the Canadian Grand Prix for the 2025 season, but unlike many of his rivals on the grid who also earned new deals last year, the Japanese driver’s latest agreement only runs for a year.
Red Bull refused to let Tsunoda leave to join one of Racing Bulls’ rivals last year, protecting one of their assets without ever truly considering him for a promotion.
Now, it looks like Tsunoda is set to leave Racing Bulls at the end of 2025 as the team’s relationship with Honda comes to an end.
A report from Autosport has shared where the 24-year-old is ‘most likely’ to end up next.
Yuki Tsunoda’s ‘most likely’ Formula 1 role in 2026 is as Aston Martin’s reserve driver
Tsunoda finds himself in a tricky position, knowing that his long-term future is unlikely to be at Red Bull after being overlooked as Perez’s replacement over the winter.
Instead, he now looks like a useful yardstick in the junior team with Isack Hadjar the latest driver set to challenge the Japanese star.
If Lawson completely fails to step up to the level required at Red Bull, then theoretically he could be swapped with Tsunoda this year.
However, that seems very unlikely, especially as Lawson has already impressed team principal Christian Horner.
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The report from Autosport suggests that ‘all signs point’ to this being Tsunoda’s final year within the Red Bull system, which means he needs to be quickly exploring his options elsewhere.
They believe that Tsunoda beating Hadjar won’t improve his prospects or harm the youngster’s reputation, although advisor Helmut Marko has extremely high standards for his team’s young drivers, particularly with Arvid Lindblad waiting in the wings.
Tsunoda was linked with Sauber and Haas last year, but both of their driver line-ups are confirmed for 2026.
It means that his ‘most likely’ option for 2026 is to become Aston Martin’s reserve driver when Honda becomes the British team’s exclusive power unit supplier.
Could Cadillac offer Yuki Tsunoda a 2026 lifeline if he loses his Racing Bulls seat?
Aston Martin currently have Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll signed up to the end of the 2026 F1 season.
Alonso could retire after that campaign, but if Aston Martin want to fulfil their dream of winning the championship, Tsunoda might not be a strong enough candidate to step into Alonso’s seat.
It’s why Aston Martin have been so heavily linked with Max Verstappen who may decide to leave Red Bull before the end of his contract if they don’t deliver a fast enough car.
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The alternative for Tsunoda is to try and secure one of the two vacant seats at Cadillac.
Formula 1’s newest team haven’t signed a driver yet for 2026 and Tsunoda would be a very strong option given his experience.
However, Autosport believes that he’s unlikely to be at the top of their shortlist, meaning the 24-year-old may have his work cut out before the 2025 season has even started.
