Yuki Tsunoda is finished at Red Bull as Helmut Marko compares Isack Hadjar to Ayrton Senna

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Yuki Tsunoda waited until his fifth Formula 1 season to get a chance with Red Bull. But it looks like that chance will only last 22 races.

Tsunoda is out of contract at the end of the season and, with three rounds to go, he’s the lowest-ranked driver in the Red Bull roster. His 28 points – 25 of which he’s scored since his promotion – leave him 17th in the championship.

Meanwhile, 2025 rookie Isack Hadjar has been a revelation at Racing Bulls. Tied with Nico Hulkenberg for ninth place in the standings, Hadjar emulated Faenza alumnus Sebastian Vettel by scoring a podium in his first full season.

Hadjar is expected to replace Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s teammate for next year. The Japanese driver’s only hope of staying on the grid is a return to former team Racing Bulls.

Helmut Marko likens Isack Hadjar’s adaptability to Ayrton Senna

Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Helmut Marko once again raved about Hadjar.

Previously, Marko has likened Hadjar to Verstappen given his ability to get up to speed on brand-new circuits almost immediately. Now, he says Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna had this trait too.

Marko’s comments all but confirm that Hadjar will become a Red Bull driver next year. They won’t leave a talent of this calibre in the midfield any longer than they need to, which means Tsunoda’s time is almost up.

“Yes [he’s got what it takes to win championships],” Marko said. “Simple example – most of the circuits are new for him, and after three laps, he’s competitive.

“I followed Michael Schumacher very closely, and also Senna. They all had it. They didn’t need 50 laps or however many tests. They come, boom, and they are there.”

Could Laurent Mekies save Yuki Tsunoda?

There’s a school of thought that Red Bull have already decided to drop Tsunoda entirely. The only reason they haven’t announced this publicly is that they’re still fighting for second in the constructors’.

Red Bull are 32 points behind Mercedes heading into the season-ending triple-header, so they need Tsunoda engaged. Liam Lawson also seems to be responding positively to the pressure on his Racing Bulls seat.

While Marko already seems sold on Hadjar, Laurent Mekies is ‘struggling’ to drop Tsunoda. The two share a close bond but, more than that, the Frenchman is wary of fast-tracking young talent.

Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad will likely be the beneficiary if Tsunoda is shown the door.