Yuki Tsunoda equals 16-year-old Red Bull record
Last in Austria and at Silverstone, the Japanese driver has just completed his fifth consecutive Grand Prix outside the points. Not since Mark Webber in 2009 has a Red Bull driver achieved such a feat.
Nothing is going right for Yuki Tsunoda. Solid for several months at Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda was eagerly awaiting his promotion to Red Bull, convinced he was ready to take on this new challenge. But after ten Grand Prix with the Austrian team, the verdict is clear: the step seems too high for the Japanese driver, who has scored only seven points since joining the main team during the Japanese Grand Prix.
Following the British Grand Prix, where he finished in a distant 15th place, Yuki Tsunoda is now the active driver who has participated in the most Grand Prix without ever stepping onto the podium, after Nico Hülkenberg recently secured a third place. And the unflattering records don’t stop there: he has just equaled a 16-year-old statistic at Red Bull. He thus becomes the first driver since Mark Webber in 2009 to go five consecutive Grand Prix without scoring a single point with the Austrian team (between the European Grand Prix and the Japan Grand Prix in 2009).
A worrying pace in qualifying and in the race
If he admitted not understanding his underperformance in the race, his difficulties in qualifying are just as concerning. In the last six rounds, he was eliminated three times right in Q1. Last weekend at Silverstone, he couldn’t do better than a 12th place on the grid, while his teammate Max Verstappen clinched pole position.
These mixed results are making his future at Red Bull increasingly uncertain. Helmut Marko, the team’s advisor, stated that no other driver changes are planned for this season. Nevertheless, Tsunoda’s disappointing performances, combined with the announced end of the partnership between Red Bull and Honda at the end of the year, make the Japanese driver’s departure more and more likely.
Limited options for 2026
Problem: Exit routes are rare. Cadillac and Alpine could be options, but the former seems to be looking for an experienced driver, while the latter prioritizes its young talents. Another credible option could be Aston Martin. The British team will benefit from Honda engines from 2026, and the Japanese manufacturer would view the arrival of its compatriot positively.
However, both seats are already occupied for next year. Tsunoda could then be integrated as a reserve driver, waiting for a potential departure of Fernando Alonso, whose contract ends in 2026.
The future of the Japanese driver remains uncertain, especially since the departure of Christian Horner is shaking up the internal dynamics of the Milton Keynes team. With two weeks off before the Belgian Grand Prix, Tsunoda now has some time to recharge and regain the form he showed at the start of the season with Racing Bulls. Because his future in Formula 1 might be decided in the coming weeks.
