The Red Bull Formula One team announced Tuesday that Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will not be retained for the 2026 season, demoting him to a reserve role.
Tsunoda, who was promoted to Red Bull from its junior outfit in round three of the current season, struggled against his four-time world champion teammate Max Verstappen, failing to beat him in any of the races the Dutchman finished.
Tsunoda will remain within the Red Bull organization in 2026, as he was named test and reserve driver for both the top team and the Racing Bulls outfit.
“Through his five seasons so far in Formula One, Yuki has matured into a complete racer, good over a single lap on Saturday and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday,” said Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal, in a statement.
“We know he will provide invaluable support to the 2026 projects moving forward.”
The 25-year-old has one race left, Sunday in Abu Dhabi, to try to improve on his best finish in a Red Bull — a sixth in Azerbaijan. Ranked 15th in the drivers’ standings, Tsunoda has scored just 33 points this season, compared to Verstappen’s 396.
Tsunoda could still make a large contribution on the way out, though, as Verstappen remains in the fight for the drivers’ championship, giving the Japanese the opportunity to take points away from his teammate’s title rivals, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Frenchman Isack Hadjar was named as Tsunoda’s replacement at Red Bull, with the 21-year-old having had a strong rookie season for Racing Bulls, the Japanese driver’s former team.
Replacing Hadjar at Racing Bulls will be British-Swedish Formula Two driver Arvid Lindblad. He will partner New Zealander Liam Lawson, who continues with the team.
