F1 driver senses ‘his time’s going’ on the grid as 2026 contract renewal looks less and less likely

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Formula 1 teams are beginning to run out of time to decide their line-ups for the 2026 season.

There are only five races in the 2025 F1 campaign and the drivers’ championship is on a knife edge after the United States Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen dominated the United States GP, putting Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris under even more pressure.

However, for the quartet of drivers who don’t have contracts for 2026, the race produced mixed results.

Franco Colapinto was scolded by Alpine for overtaking teammate Pierre Gasly in the closing stages against team orders.

Isack Hadjar crashed in qualifying, while Liam Lawson finished a frustrating P9 in the Sprint Race and P11 in Sunday’s Grand Prix, missing out on scoring points in Austin by one position in both events.

Yuki Tsunoda achieved his joint-best points haul of the season, finishing seventh in both races to come away with 10 points.

However, journalist Edd Straw and Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz both believe the Japanese driver is running out of time to prove himself to Red Bull, and his confidence is beginning to wane.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Yuki Tsunoda losing confidence as the writing is ‘on the wall’ for his Formula 1 future

Straw was speaking to The Race Members Club after qualifying for the United States Grand Prix and said: “Yeah, I’m a little bit concerned about Yuki Tsunoda.

“I just think he’s sensing that his time’s going. For example, he was complaining about the traffic on his Q2 run.

“He lost a little bit in turn 15, but he was still a little bit marginal. He probably would have got through to Q3, but he’s in a car that’s on pole.

“OK, he’s got the one step back front wing, but by his own admission, that’s a small amount.

“He’s just going through that thing that we’ve seen with other drivers at Red Bull, they just can’t nail it, they can’t crack it, the confidence, I think, is going.

“He’s saying he’s confident, but I don’t think he is. He’s really feeling it at the moment, and that’s manifesting itself in frustration at other drivers.

“So, I’m a little bit concerned for Tsunoda, I think he sees the writing on the wall, and the writing is the name Hadjar above the Red Bull garage next year.

“It’s not set yet, but a little bit worrying for him.”

Kravitz shared his feelings on Ted’s Notebook after Sunday’s race and said: “Some good points for Yuki Tsunoda, but I fear the dye is already cast in terms of him staying at Red Bull Racing next year, which we don’t think he is.

“We think it’s going to be Isack Hadjar, but I told you that already, right?”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Yuki Tsunoda upset Formula 1 rivals at the United States GP as pressure mounts

Tsunoda failed to reach the top 10 shootout in either qualifying session in Austin.

Martin Brundle was baffled by Tsunoda blaming Lawson for his Q2 exit on Saturday, as he believed the New Zealander and Gasly both blocked him.

Tsunoda produced two brilliant getaways after his difficult qualifying performances, before getting on the wrong side of Oliver Bearman.

Bearman was furious with Tsunoda as he believed he moved under braking going into the tight turn 16.

In his official post-race interview, Bearman said: “For me, what he did was unfair.

“I felt what he did was against the rules and against the spirit of the regulations and what we race to.

“It was two laps that I was trying to fight with him, clearly I had more pace at that stage.

“Every time I was looking at the move, on the inside at Turn 12, the inside at Turn 13, and the inside at Turn 15, he was moving in reaction. And moving in reaction is something that we can’t do at these speeds with these cars. It’s dangerous.”

Tsunoda’s future is in serious doubt, and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said a decision on Tsunoda’s seat would be made after the Mexico City Grand Prix.

He will need to produce the best performance of his career next weekend to have a chance of being on the grid next year.