Yuki Tsunoda Dropped: F1 Future, Career Stats, and Plan

Full name: Yuki Tsunoda ·
Date of birth: 11 May 2000 ·
Age: 24 ·
Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.59 m) ·
F1 debut: 2021 (Bahrain GP) ·
Last team: Red Bull Racing (2025)

These nine key facts show a driver whose trajectory flipped several times in two years.

What’s happening to Yuki Tsunoda?

Tsunoda’s 2025 season started with a confirmation he would stay at RB (formerly AlphaTauri) for a fifth year. But by early January, reports from RacingNews365 article indicated he had been named Red Bull’s official reserve driver, a dual-role arrangement. Then came the shock: in March 2025, after only two races, Red Bull promoted Tsunoda to replace Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen, as reported by Goodwood racing news. He spent the rest of the season in the senior team. But by December 2025, ESPN confirmed he would lose his race seat for 2026 and become a reserve driver again.

Yuki Tsunoda promoted to Red Bull mid-2025

• Replaced Liam Lawson after two races of the 2025 season (Goodwood racing news).
• Lawson moved back to a non-race role after a very short stint (Goodwood racing news).

Transition to reserve driver for 2026

• Tsunoda described his 2026 role as involving debriefs and simulator work rather than racing (Formula1.com official).
• He admitted he was “disappointed” after Helmut Marko told him the news privately (ESPN report).

Why was Yuki Tsunoda dropped from Formula 1?

The question is more nuanced: he wasn’t dropped in 2025; he actually moved up mid-season. But he was dropped from a race seat for 2026. The decision came from Red Bull’s senior management, who opted to restructure their lineup. Red Bull’s driver program has a history of rotating seats, as noted by ESPN. Tsunoda’s teammate at RB in 2024, Daniel Ricciardo, was also replaced mid-season, underscoring the team’s ruthless approach.

Red Bull’s driver program decisions

• Red Bull chose to promote junior drivers over Tsunoda for 2026, according to RacingNews365 article.
• The team values internal competition — Ayumu Iwasa was named reserve for Racing Bulls if Tsunoda moved up or needed cover (RacingNews365 article).

Performance compared to teammates

• Tsunoda scored 30 points in the 2024 season, outperforming Daniel Ricciardo in the same machinery.
• His highest race finish remains 4th at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Impact of Honda’s exit from F1

• Honda, which supported Tsunoda early in his career, ended its factory relationship with Red Bull after 2021, reducing political backing for Japanese drivers.
• Without Honda’s direct influence, Tsunoda lost a key advocate within the Red Bull ecosystem.

The pattern shows that Red Bull’s driver decisions often override individual merit when it comes to long-term planning.

What is next for Yuki Tsunoda after F1?

Tsunoda remains under contract as a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2026. His duties will center on simulator sessions and debriefs, not racing. But he has hinted at other possibilities: “There’s a chance that my next year won’t be limited to simulator and reserve driver work,” he told Sports Illustrated report. At 25, he is far from retiring — he said in the same interview: “I’m only 25, and I have my whole life ahead of me.”

Reserve driver duties for Red Bull and Racing Bulls

• Simulator work, trackside support, and potential substitute drives if a regular driver is unable to race.
• Reporting from Formula1.com official confirmed he has already accepted the role.

Potential moves to other racing series

• Tsunoda has not publicly ruled out a switch to Formula E, Super Formula, or sports cars.
• His management is likely exploring options for a race seat elsewhere in F1 if opportunities arise.

Contract length and options

• The specific length of his reserve contract has not been disclosed.
• A motorsport report in January 2025 suggested his contract could end in late 2025, but the 2026 reserve role indicates an extension or new deal.

The next 12 months will determine whether he returns to a race seat or moves to another series.

How long has Yuki Tsunoda been in F1?

Five seasons, from 2021 through 2025 — four with the Red Bull junior team (AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls) and a partial 2025 season with Red Bull itself. He scored 111 career points and achieved one top-four finish.

Yuki Tsunoda career timeline: 2021-2025

• 2021: Debuts with AlphaTauri, finishes 4th at Abu Dhabi GP — his career-best race result.
• 2022-2024: Scores points consistently, often out-performing teammates.
• 2025: Begins season at RB, promoted to Red Bull in March after two races, finishes season with senior team.
• 2026: Moves to reserve driver role.

Racing Bulls performance record

• Best championship finish: 12th (2022, 2024).
• Head-to-head against teammates: won the qualifying battle in each of his first three seasons.

The consistency of his performance makes the lack of a seat all the more puzzling.

Personal life and background of Yuki Tsunoda

Born 11 May 2000 in Sagamihara, Japan, Tsunoda stands 1.59 m (5 ft 2 in), making him one of the shortest drivers on the grid. His family supported his early racing career, though they are not known to be exceptionally wealthy. His net worth is estimated from his F1 salary and endorsements.

Yuki Tsunoda age, height, and birthday

• Age: 24 (as of March 2025).
• Height: 1.59 m (5 ft 2 in).
• Birthday: 11 May 2000.

Yuki Tsunoda net worth and family background

• Family background not publicly confirmed as wealthy, but they financed his early karting and junior categories.
• Net worth: speculative, but in line with typical F1 salaries for junior-team drivers.

Does Yuki Tsunoda have a partner?

• Tsunoda has not publicly confirmed a long-term partner.

His personal story adds depth to the professional narrative.

Timeline

The key dates in Tsunoda’s career are outlined below.

The sequence of events reveals a pattern of short-term commitments masking long-term instability.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Key perspectives from those involved

“I’m disappointed not to be racing in 2026. But I’m only 25, and I have my whole life ahead of me.”

— Yuki Tsunoda, Sports Illustrated report

“Tsunoda was told privately by Helmut Marko after the race that he would not be racing the following year.”

— ESPN report

These quotes reveal a driver who accepts his 2026 role but is not giving up on a return. The central question is whether Red Bull will give him another chance or if another team will step in.

For a deeper look at his journey, see his detailed career statistics.

Frequently asked questions

Tsunoda’s future now depends on whether Red Bull offers another chance or another team steps in to give him a race seat.

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