Yuki Tsunoda’s Future at Red Bull: The Clock is Ticking as the Summer Break Approaches!
As the tension mounts in the world of Formula 1, all eyes are on Yuki Tsunoda and his precarious position within the Red Bull Racing team. Helmut Marko, the seasoned motorsport adviser for Red Bull, has confirmed that the Japanese driver’s future remains uncertain, with critical evaluations set for after the summer break.
Tsunoda’s journey took a dramatic turn when he was swiftly brought on board as a replacement for rookie Liam Lawson, who failed to impress during the opening races of the 2025 season. The stakes are high: since joining the team before his home Grand Prix in Suzuka, Tsunoda has only managed to score points in three races, and shockingly, he is currently enduring a dismal streak of seven consecutive races without adding to his tally.
With the phenomenal Max Verstappen already secured for the 2026 season, the spotlight now shifts to who will fill the coveted second seat alongside the four-time world champion. Marko made it clear in an interview with F1-Insider that “everything is open” regarding the driver line-up for the upcoming year. “We traditionally make our driver evaluations after the summer break, and then it will be decided how the driver line-up for next year will look, perhaps partly even later,” Marko stated, emphasizing that no firm decisions have been made yet.
Red Bull’s struggle to find a worthy partner for Verstappen has been a saga of its own over the past 18 months. Despite Tsunoda’s recent lack of scoring, the driver remains optimistic about his progress. “I can say confidently that I’m progressing every race,” Tsunoda declared during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. “It’s not the result that I want or that I’m hoping for. But at the same time, I’m not doing anything wrong. There are a few things I could do better, but that’s part of learning.”
Tsunoda is determined to refine his skills, learning from Verstappen as he navigates the challenges of this elite sport. “I’m just adding up the performance on top of the performance I have in every race. I’m in good shape,” he asserted, revealing his relentless pursuit of improvement. He recognizes the need for greater precision and confidence to truly excel in the cutthroat environment of Formula 1.
Adding another layer to this unfolding drama is Tsunoda’s reunion with Laurent Mekies, the new CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, who previously served as Tsunoda’s team chief at Racing Bulls. Marko praised Mekies’s hands-on leadership style, noting that it has fostered a better atmosphere within the team. “On a purely personal level, he is someone focused on the matter at hand,” Marko remarked. “Success and team leadership are his priorities.”
This shift in management has seemingly sparked a renewed sense of purpose for Tsunoda, as Marko observed noticeable improvements in his performance during qualifying and races. “Especially with Yuki Tsunoda, you could see that a step forward had been made,” he noted, hinting at a brighter future if Tsunoda can harness this momentum.
As the summer break looms, the pressure is mounting for Tsunoda to deliver results that could secure his place within the Red Bull ranks. Will he rise to the occasion, or will this be the beginning of the end for his time with the iconic team? The countdown has begun, and the racing world is watching closely.
