Red Bull Racing has thrown Yuki Tsunoda into the spotlight, declaring that his performance gap to superstar driver Max Verstappen will be the crucial factor in deciding his future with the team as they look ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Tsunoda’s position has recently been thrust into jeopardy following a spectacular showing from his rival, Isack Hadjar, who secured his first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, leaving Tsunoda scrambling for answers.
Hadjar, who partnered with Tsunoda at Racing Bulls for the 2025 season, seized an unexpected opportunity to clinch third place after Lando Norris’s unfortunate late retirement. This incredible achievement allowed Hadjar to outscore Tsunoda in a single race, amassing more points than Tsunoda has managed over his entire 13-race stint with Red Bull. The pressure is mounting for Tsunoda as he failed to capitalize on his earlier promise, qualifying outside the top 10 and finishing a disappointing ninth at Zandvoort.
In a candid statement, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies emphasized that the decision regarding Tsunoda’s seat will not be solely influenced by one race performance. “We have a feeling in Budapest, we have another feeling here,” he explained to the media, including Motorsport Week. “It’s our drivers, we have them all under contract. Why would you put yourself under pressure based on a result or another?”
With nine races remaining in the season, Mekies assured fans that while they would not wait until the very last race to make a decision, they still have ample time to evaluate Tsunoda’s progress. “We want to let our driver know, but we have time,” he stated, hinting at the complexity of contract negotiations and performance evaluations.
For Tsunoda, the clock is ticking as he races against time to solidify his standing within the Red Bull hierarchy. Mekies highlighted the necessity for Tsunoda to narrow the performance gap to Verstappen as a key to his future. “At first, you can always do more, always. We can do more, he can do more, always,” Mekies noted, indicating that both the team and Tsunoda himself must ramp up their efforts.
Despite recent struggles, Mekies remains optimistic about Tsunoda’s trajectory. “I think it’s still a positive trend for Yuki,” he remarked, referencing Tsunoda’s return to points after a seven-race drought. “Spa was a step forward, Budapest, as much as we were poor as a team, was a step forward in terms of the gap to Max. Today, he’s P9, could have been a P8 or a P7.”
Ultimately, Red Bull is looking for a consistent improvement from Tsunoda, urging him to close the gap to Verstappen and continue scoring points, as that is the essence of what it takes to secure a seat in the fiercely competitive world of Formula 1. The pressure is on for Tsunoda—will he rise to the challenge, or will his future with Red Bull come to an end? The next few races will be critical in determining the outcome.
