Jack Doohan reacts as Yuki Tsunoda releases statement following 2026 Red Bull exit

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The news that Yuki Tsunoda and all of his fans were dreading arrived on Tuesday when Red Bull Racing confirmed that the Japanese driver had been dropped ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Max Verstappen will be joined by Isack Hadjar at Red Bull next season following a stellar rookie campaign from the Frenchman.

Hadjar scored his first Formula 1 podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, while Yuki Tsunoda is currently third on the all-time list of drivers with the most race starts without standing on the rostrum.

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Honda pushed hard to keep Tsunoda on the grid, but in a head-to-head battle with Liam Lawson to secure the second Racing Bulls seat alongside Arvid Lindblad, the New Zealander came out on top.

Now, Tsunoda has taken to social media to address what will be his final race as a Red Bull driver at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Jack Doohan, the only driver axed during the 2025 F1 season, has responded and will know exactly how the 25-year-old feels. Meanwhile, only one current driver on the grid has sent Tsunoda a message publicly.

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

Jack Doohan responds to Yuki Tsunoda as he demands he’s ‘not finished yet’ after Red Bull exit

Tsunoda took to Instagram to react to his imminent exit ahead of another incredibly important race for Red Bull.

One of the reasons why Tsunoda is set to lose his seat has been his inability to support Verstappen in his efforts to win a fifth consecutive drivers’ championship.

Abu Dhabi is one of Tsunoda’s strongest tracks, and it would be the ultimate parting gift if he could play a classic Sergio Perez role and deny Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri the chance to win the title.

Posting on social media, Tsunoda said: “I’m not finished yet.

Finding out I won’t have a race seat in 2026 was incredibly tough, but I’m determined to work harder than ever with Red Bull as test and reserve driver to develop with the team, and prove I deserve a place on the grid.

“Life’s full of setbacks, and this is mine. It’s not going to deter me from being the best F1 driver I can be.”

He received a reply from Doohan, who will know just how Tsunoda is feeling, and said: “You’ll be back, brother.”

Rubens Barrichello said: “Go, amigo,” while the only current F1 driver to reply was Williams star Carlos Sainz, who used two strong arm emojis to react to his fellow racer’s exit.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan? All to know from girlfriend to dad

Laurent Mekies pays tribute to Yuki Tsunoda ahead of his final Red Bull race

Tsunoda will remain at Red Bull as a reserve and test driver next season, meaning he will likely step into either team in 2026 if required.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is a big fan of the 25-year-old, and there was a point where it looked like Mekies and Helmut Marko disagreed on whether to keep Tsunoda or Lawson.

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Reacting to the decision to drop Tsunoda, Mekies said in an official statement: “Yuki has raced in Red Bull colours for seven years now, and I have had the pleasure of working with him at both Red Bull teams.

“Through his five seasons so far in Formula 1, Yuki has matured into a complete racer, good over a single lap on Saturday and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday.

“Everyone in the sport would agree it is impossible not to like Yuki; his personality is infectious, and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family.

“On behalf of everyone at Red Bull, I thank him for what he has contributed so far, and we know he will provide invaluable support to the 2026 projects moving forward.”