Formula 1 Rumor: Tsunoda to Become Red Bull Reserve Driver in 2026 (Update)

This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ with yesterday’s announcement by Red Bull that Tsunoda will indeed become a Reserve driver for both Red Bull teams.

Honda ‘trump card’ didn’t work out for Tsunoda
Red Bull has confirmed the expected top-to-bottom overhaul of its driver structure for 2026 – with Yuki Tsunoda losing his race seat and moving into a Red Bull-Racing Bulls reserve role.

Isack Hadjar steps up to partner Max Verstappen, while new 2026 rookie Arvid Lindblad replaces him at Racing Bulls alongside the retained Liam Lawson.

Auto Motor und Sport offered an explanation for how Tsunoda’s fate was sealed – and why Honda could no longer protect him.

“Until the very end, Honda had been his trump card,” correspondent Joel Lischka wrote. “Red Bull wouldn’t have had engines for the TPC cars, as the latest models were equipped with Honda power units.

“A deal was in the works whereby Honda would sell its engines to Red Bull at a discount if Tsunoda retained a seat,” he explained.

However, Lischka said Red Bull ultimately “rejected the idea” of a Honda discount in favor of drivers that might be more talented.

As Formula 1’s 2025 season winds down amid Max Verstappen’s nail-biting championship fight, the paddock’s attention has shifted to the seismic driver market shake-up for 2026. At the epicenter: Yuki Tsunoda (pictured), the fiery Japanese talent whose Red Bull tenure has been a rollercoaster of promise and peril.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Reports emerging from credible Japanese and Dutch media outlets suggest Tsunoda is poised for a demotion from full-time racer to reserve driver at Red Bull Racing, effective next season. With an official announcement rumored for today, December 2, this move—fueled by internal promotions and Honda’s lingering influence—could redefine Tsunoda’s career trajectory just as the grid braces for a new regulatory era.

The Netherlands’ De Telegraaf, Germany’s Bild, Sport1 and British sources all report that the decision was effectively sealed during high-level meetings in Qatar involving Oliver Mintzlaff, Laurent Mekies and Dr Helmut Marko.

Isack Hadjar had smiled at the speculation on Friday, but his mood darkened after retiring from Sunday’s Qatar GP with bodywork problems – describing his Racing Bulls car as a “Lego car”.

Asked about the looming Tuesday announcement, he snapped: “I don’t care about that now.”

But in reality, the 21-year-old Frenchman is widely understood to have gotten the nod for Red Bull Racing, with Arvid Lindblad to replace him at Racing Bulls and Liam Lawson retained.

According to Bild, Tsunoda will be offered a combined reserve-driver role across both Red Bull teams for 2026 – ending his five-season run on the Formula 1 grid.

The Rumor Unpacked: From Race Seat to Sidelines

The buzz ignited late Monday when Shiga Sports, a respected Japanese F1 journalist, dropped a bombshell on X: “Yuki Tsunoda’s appointment as Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver for 2026 is confirmed. Yesterday’s Dutch media report was spot on. Final details are being adjusted, with an official announcement expected today.”

This aligns with a De Telegraaf scoop from Erik van Haren, who cited high-level Red Bull sources claiming Isack Hadjar will “definitely” slot in as Verstappen’s teammate at the senior team, while Arvid Lindblad earns an F1 debut at Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Tsunoda, squeezed out of a race seat across both Red Bull squads, would pivot to a reserve role—potentially covering both teams under a Honda-brokered Test Previous Car (TPC) program.

Racing Bulls principal Laurent Mekies hinted at the timeline post-Qatar Grand Prix, noting the announcement would drop Tuesday (today) without spilling specifics. “It could be down to the last point [in Abu Dhabi], so it could be mega important,” Mekies said of Tsunoda’s focus on aiding Verstappen, underscoring the 25-year-old’s value even amid uncertainty. X chatter amplified the rumor overnight, with accounts like @formularacers_ and @shigasportsf1 racking up thousands of engagements, fans lamenting the “harsh outcome” for a driver who’s outpaced expectations yet fallen victim to Red Bull’s youth pipeline.

Tsunoda’s Rocky Ride: Promise, Pressure, and Verstappen’s Shadow

Tsunoda’s ascent was meteoric. The Honda-backed prodigy debuted with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2021, injecting raw speed and unfiltered passion into a midfield squad. By 2024, he’d notched podiums and solidified his status as Japan’s F1 flagbearer. His 2025 promotion to Red Bull alongside Verstappen—replacing a struggling Liam Lawson after just two races—seemed a coronation. Yet, the pressure cooker of Milton Keynes proved brutal. Outqualified and outscored by the four-time champ Verstappen, Tsunoda managed flashes of brilliance, like his strong showing in Qatar Sprint Qualifying, but averaged a deficit that exposed the team’s ruthless meritocracy.

Critics point to Red Bull’s infamous teammate curse – all devoured by Verstappen’s dominance. Tsunoda, ever candid, admitted post-Las Vegas, “I’ve been faster than Max multiple times,” a nod to his untapped potential. But with Hadjar’s blistering rookie campaign—outpacing veterans in sprints and grands prix—the French-Algerian phenom emerged as the logical successor. Lindblad’s F2 dominance and Lawson’s redemption arc (post his early 2025 benching) further crowded the field, leaving Tsunoda as the odd man out.

Honda’s Heavy Hand: A Lifeline or Leverage?

No discussion of Tsunoda’s fate omits Honda, whose millions have bankrolled his rise since day one. As engine supplier until 2025 (and potential TPC partner beyond), the Japanese giant wields outsized influence. Koji Watanabe, Honda Racing’s F1 chief, urged Red Bull to retain him: “We believe Tsunoda has potential… we intend to express our opinion that he will be fully capable of being part of the Red Bull family in 2026.” Speculation swirled around a personal sponsorship extension or even an Aston Martin reserve gig—Silverstone’s Honda alliance from 2026 onward seemed tailor-made. But Aston doused those flames, extending Jak Crawford’s contract and staying mum on Tsunoda links.

The TPC angle could be key: Red Bull’s reported Honda deal for legacy car testing might carve out a hybrid reserve role for Tsunoda, blending sim work, TPC laps, and emergency cover—keeping him in F1’s orbit without a race harness. Yet, Tsunoda himself poured cold water on reserves last week: “I’m not thinking about that direction, to be honest,” prioritizing a full-time drive. His camp’s reported disappointment—having spurned a Haas offer in 2024 to stay loyal—adds a layer of bitterness.

Beyond F1: IndyCar Whispers and a Fractured Future?

If the reserve rumor solidifies, Tsunoda’s options dwindle. The F1 grid is locked—22 seats spoken for—leaving IndyCar as the siren call. Rumors link him to Dale Coyne Racing, where a vacancy lingers alongside 2025 NXT champ Dennis Hauger. Honda’s Indy dominance (via Andretti) makes it a natural pivot, and timing aligns with Red Bull’s post-Qatar deadline. “With no other known commitments, IndyCar comes up as a possibility,” notes Sportskeeda, though Tsunoda’s heart remains in F1.

Paddock whispers question if Honda can “tip the balance” one last time, per journalist Ronald Vording, but Red Bull’s internal harmony—post-Christian Horner drama—prioritizes youth over sentiment.

As Abu Dhabi looms, Tsunoda’s final race could be his most poignant: a chance to shine, perhaps in Verstappen’s service, before the curtain falls on his Red Bull chapter.

For Tsunoda, Abu Dhabi will now be an emotional farewell. The Japanese driver said in Qatar that he has been performing at his absolute peak in recent weeks.

“I did everything I could,” he said. “Especially in the last four races, the team gave me a lot of support, and I was able to drive a car almost like Max’s.

“I proved a lot. With an identical car, I was always within two or three tenths. In Las Vegas I was consistently in the same group, and in Qatar I finished ahead of him in sprint qualifying. I’m showing what I’m capable of.”

He added that his priority now is helping Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

“We have the speed, and I don’t think there’s much we can do to improve on the second place finish.”