Tue Dec 02 16:40:00 UTC 2025: News Article:

Tsunoda Expected to Lose Red Bull Seat as 2026 Driver Lineups Loom

DOHA – December 1, 2025 – Yuki Tsunoda’s tenure with Red Bull Racing appears to be nearing its end, with sources indicating the Japanese driver is set to lose his race seat. Red Bull’s two Formula One teams are scheduled to announce their 2026 driver lineups on Tuesday.

French driver Isack Hadjar, currently with Racing Bulls, is tipped to replace Tsunoda and partner with reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. This shift would leave two open positions at Racing Bulls, where Liam Lawson currently holds one seat. Tsunoda and rising F2 star Arvid Lindblad are also in contention for these seats.

“We will announce on Tuesday what the driver lineup is,” Red Bull principal Laurent Mekies confirmed to reporters after the Qatar Grand Prix. “We are confident it will not disturb the focus in Abu Dhabi.”

Verstappen continues his pursuit of a fifth consecutive world championship after his victory at Lusail. Despite Tsunoda’s tenth-place finish in the same race, his overall contribution to Red Bull’s points tally has been significantly lower than Verstappen’s. Verstappen has amassed 396 of the team’s 426 points, while Tsunoda is yet to achieve a finish higher than sixth this season.

The departure of Tsunoda’s backers, Honda, to Aston Martin at the end of the season further complicates his position.

Mekies emphasized the importance of Tsunoda’s performance in the upcoming Abu Dhabi race, stating, “It is mega important… it could be down to the last point. So it will be super-important to have Yuki at 100%.”

While Red Bull currently sits third in the constructors’ championship, already secured by McLaren for the second consecutive year, the team is looking to optimize its driver lineup for the future. Lawson, who briefly drove for Red Bull earlier in the season, has scored more points than Tsunoda this year, including a ninth-place finish in Qatar.

Hadjar’s strong performance, including a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, has solidified his position as a frontrunner for the Red Bull seat. Lindblad, despite being only 18, impressed during practice sessions, even outperforming Tsunoda in Mexico City.

“He did a very good job. It’s so difficult to jump in. The pace is there, so not much to argue against that,” Mekies said of Lindblad’s performance in Mexico.

The official announcement on Tuesday is highly anticipated, and will determine the future direction of Red Bull’s driver strategy.

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