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Yuki Tsunoda loses Red Bull seat for 2026, moves to reserve role
After four years on the Formula 1 grid, Yuki Tsunoda will no longer race for Red Bull or Racing Bulls in 2026, taking on a key role as test and reserve driver instead.
By Lesley Bakker - 2025-12-03T13:26:18.000Z - 2 min read
Yuki Tsunoda will not compete as a full-time race driver for Red Bull Racing or sister team Racing Bulls in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The 25-year-old Japanese driver, who made his debut in 2021, has been demoted, with his final appearance as a Red Bull driver scheduled for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
However, he remains closely tied to Red Bull as a test and reserve driver. In this role, Tsunoda will contribute to car development, work in the simulator, and gather crucial data. This is particularly vital ahead of the new 2026 regulations. He will also remain on standby to step in should any of the race drivers be unavailable.
The decision hit Tsunoda hard, as he shared on social media, describing the news as 'incredibly tough' to digest. Nevertheless, he remains combative and determined to prove his worth and ultimately force a return to the grid. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies previously emphasized that Tsunoda's 'infectious personality' makes him a special member of the Red Bull family.
His performances since his promotion to Red Bull following the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix—having driven the first two races of the season for Racing Bulls—lagged behind teammate Max Verstappen. Tsunoda scored just 30 points as a Red Bull driver, compared to Verstappen's 396. These results also left him behind current Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, with the latter set to replace him in 2026. However, the reserve role has previously offered drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon a route back into Formula 1, giving Tsunoda an opportunity to keep aiming for a 2027 seat.