Red Bull pay tribute to Yuki Tsunoda after confirming exit ahead of the 2026 F1 season

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull have officially confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will lose his seat at the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Japanese driver has been with the Red Bull family in F1 since his debut in 2021 with AlphaTauri. He was only afforded his chance with the senior team after Liam Lawson was dropped after two races in 2025.

Tsunoda has stood in from Suzuka onwards, but has immensely struggled to perform in the second RB21. He has scored 30 points since his promotion from Racing Bulls, leaving him 15th in the standings.

With Max Verstappen in second and fighting for the championship in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull have been held back by Tsunoda’s performances. Subsequently, they have decided to act, with Isack Hadjar replacing Tsunoda in 2026.

Red Bull pay tribute to Yuki Tsunoda after confirming his exit for 2026

Jolyon Palmer said it was ‘hard to justify’ Tsunoda having a seat in 2026 with his results. It is hard to argue that point, especially when he has been beaten by the Racing Bulls drivers on a regular basis.

Sure enough, the 25-year-old will be off the grid in 2026, with Lawson and Arvid Lindblad joining the Faenza team next season to complete the F1 line-ups.

Tsunoda will not be out of F1 entirely, however. Red Bull have confirmed him as the team’s test and reserve driver for 2026, which will be vital for the Milton Keynes outfit as they become an engine manufacturer under the new technical regulations.

Posting on their official Instagram account after the news, Red Bull paid a heartfelt tribute to Tsunoda for his hard work with the team.

It read: “Thank you, Yuki, for your commitment and hard work this season. We’ll keep pushing for a strong weekend in Abu Dhabi and look forward to working with you as our Test and Reserve Driver for 2026.”

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

F1 fans feel Yuki Tsunoda ‘deserved better’ at Red Bull

F1 fans were not impressed by the news on social media. Writing under Red Bull’s Instagram post, they felt that Tsunoda deserved more from the team.

“Did him so wrong,” said one fan, while another echoed: “Yuki deserved a better car.”

One user wrote: “Yuki deserved much more.” Another repeated the sentiment, saying: “Yuki deserved better.”

“Yuki moved to Red Bull because of Lawson’s poor performance, but… he ended up being crushed by the team,” said another distraught fan. Finally, one fan expressed anger towards Red Bull: “Another young talent ruined by Red Bull. Good luck Yuki, you deserved better.”