Red Bull have now ‘confirmed internally’ their decision on Yuki Tsunoda’s future with the F1 team

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Red Bull control three of the six remaining seats available on the 2026 grid, with Yuki Tsunoda plus Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson each out of contract.

The three drivers entered the 2025 F1 season knowing they would be fighting for their long-term futures on the grid. But Tsunoda is also now fighting for his future in the main Red Bull team, having started the year with Racing Bulls before trading places with Lawson in March.

Tsunoda initially seemed like he could offer Red Bull an upgrade on Lawson, who did not get a single point in his two rounds with the team. But the Japanese racer has since struggled to display his talent, with the 25-year-old failing to score a single point in the last seven rounds.

F1 paddock figures now fear Tsunoda’s F1 career would be over if he leaves Red Bull, having missed out on a potential move to Cadillac after they signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for next season. Tsunoda’s agent had spoken to Cadillac in Monaco to explore their interest.

Red Bull have ‘confirmed internally’ that Yuki Tsunoda will leave at the end of 2025

But Tsunoda is now attracting interest from Alpine for 2026, as their executive adviser Flavio Briatore is still not convinced that Franco Colapinto deserves to stay on next to Pierre Gasly. Colapinto is still without a point since the Argentine replaced Jack Doohan at Alpine in May.

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

Tsunoda may have to hope that Briatore does decide to make a change if he is to stay on the F1 grid in 2026, too. That is because Bild reports that Red Bull have ‘confirmed internally’ at their factory in Milton Keynes that Tsunoda will leave the F1 team at the end of this season.

Red Bull have decided to release Tsunoda when his contract expires after only scoring seven points across his 12 rounds in the RB21 so far. But it is ‘unlikely’ that Red Bull sign Alex Palou to replace Tsunoda, with Hadjar likely to step up to allow Arvid Lindblad to join Racing Bulls.

Red Bull’s management, which now includes Tsunoda’s old Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies as CEO and team principal, have been ‘very impressed’ by Hadjar’s rookie results. Hadjar has the second-most points in the Red Bull family in 2025 with 22, behind Max Verstappen’s 187.

Christian Danner urges Red Bull to sign Alex Palou as Yuki Tsunoda’s replacement

Hadjar is Red Bull’s top target to replace Tsunoda, having impressed the Milton Keynes team with his rookie results for Racing Bulls. But Mekies may yet need to persuade the Parisian to take over Tsunoda’s drive next season, with Hadjar highly reluctant to join Red Bull for 2026.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

So, while Bild reports that Red Bull are unlikely to sign Palou as Tsunoda’s replacement, and his IndyCar team’s owner Chip Ganassi even shut down the chances of the Spaniard leaving CGR, Christian Danner would love to see the Catalan given a chance to prove his skills in F1.

Danner told sport.de: “Tsunoda is definitely going to fly. As for who will be the second driver, the wildest rumours currently revolve around Alex Palou, who races in the IndyCar Series in the USA. I’d definitely put him in because he’s fantastic.

“Or Palou to Racing Bulls if Hadjar goes to Red Bull. But does Hadjar want that? I don’t think so. So, Red Bull have to think about where they want to go. Unlike the other top cockpits, Red Bull’s isn’t very popular because it’s become a career killer thanks to Verstappen.

“I’d be most happy if Palou did it because he’s really good. Is he good enough for Formula 1? It would be great if we found out.”