Yuki Tsunoda‘s F1 Career Takes a Detour as Red Bull Reserve Driver
Yuki Tsunoda won’t be on the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Instead, the Japanese driver will take on a new challenge as Red Bull’s Reserve Driver following Isack Hadjar’s appointment to his race seat.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda remains surprisingly upbeat about his future.
“I’m excited to see from a different perspective, different eyes next year,” Tsunoda said. “First time in my career that I’m not racing. Maybe I can learn a lot of things that I never imagined about, so I’m excited for that.”
This kind of career pause isn’t necessarily a career-ender in F1.
Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and Valtteri Bottas all bounced back from similar situations, returning to the grid after spending time on the sidelines.
Tsunoda seems determined to follow their example, keeping himself ready for any opportunity that might arise.
“Try to also be in this shape as much as possible, whenever any opportunity comes, I’ll smash it with that opportunity. Until then, keep my good shape and wait for it,” he explained.
## Could a year away actually help Tsunoda’s career?
With 11 teams on the grid next season and veterans like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton potentially retiring soon, Tsunoda’s F1 comeback isn’t far-fetched.
The 24-year-old has shown flashes of real talent during his time in F1.
He even outqualified Max Verstappen during sprint qualifying for the Qatar sprint race. His best race result came at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he finished fourth while racing for AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls).
Taking a year off might actually work in Tsunoda’s favor. He’ll get an insider’s view of how a championship-winning team operates, watching Verstappen and Hadjar up close while learning from Red Bull’s elite engineers.
This experience could make him incredibly attractive to other teams, much like how Albon and Carlos Sainz brought valuable knowledge to Williams after working with top-tier organizations.
But there’s a potential downside too. With F1’s major technical regulations changing for 2026, being away from racing when the new cars debut could put Tsunoda at a disadvantage.
Then again, his reserve driver role might give him early insights into the next generation of F1 cars that other drivers won’t have.
For now, Tsunoda’s focused on making the most of his new role while staying ready for a comeback opportunity.
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