RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesYuki Tsunoda hopes to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2027. He showed at Zandvoort that he is still competitive, but will it be enough to secure a permanent seat in the championship? If not, a move to another racing series is highly likely.
Bizarre interview from Tsunoda
After the Dutch Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda raised eyebrows when speaking to the press, including GPblog . The discussion focused for a long time on the Japanese driver's future and what he had proven to himself and all the teams on the grid that weekend.
When he was finally asked whether his performance had increased his chances for 2027, a peculiar scene unfolded. Tsunoda didn’t quite know how to respond. After a long “uhm,” he looked at his press officer. She made it clear she didn’t know what he should say either, after which Tsunoda put her on the spot by saying, “you answer for me.”
She did not, and the plan was essentially to move on to the Japanese media. Before he walked over, he looked back once more and shouted a clear message to other teams: “Call me.”
No F1 options for Tsunoda
There aren’t many options for Tsunoda. He remains part of the Red Bull family, where he made his appearance as a reserve driver. However, the door there seems closed for him. Isack Hadjar will continue with Red Bull Racing , while Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson also won't be making way for Yuki either. With Nikola Tsolov, another Red Bull talent is already waiting in the wings to make his F1 debut.
Tsunoda has also been linked with Aston Martin for years, mainly because of the team's Honda connection. With Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, who is very likely to continue, there is no room for the Japanese driver in 2027. With most other seats already filled, Haas appears to be the only team left to look at.
At Haas, it is fairly clear that the team is looking for a replacement for Esteban Ocon, but Tsunoda does not appear to be a serious candidate.
The team conducted TPCs with Rafael Camara, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Ryo Hirakawa. The latter enjoys Toyota’s support and reportedly matched the youngsters and Oliver Bearman closely on lap times as well.
It appears Tsunoda will miss out on a permanent seat once again, and a second year on the sidelines is probably not an option for him. On Thursday, Tsunoda already made it clear he has no appetite for that: “I don’t want to stand in the garage for two years; I want to drive as well. If there's something that didn't potentially happen or couldn't find a seat for next year, I may have to look at other series.”
It therefore seems very likely that Tsunoda will have to look for a seat in IndyCar, WEC, or Formula E for 2027. His reserve role at Red Bull will then most likely be taken over by Tsolov.
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