Yuki Tsunoda must now utilise one of his greatest ‘strengths’ if he’s going to save his Red Bull career

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Yuki Tsunoda has a handful of weeks remaining to save his Formula 1 career and convince Red Bull that he should have a seat in 2026.

His team have held back from making a decision for a few months as they pour their efforts into an unlikely drivers’ championship charge for Max Verstappen.

It’s possible that comes to an end at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which means their attention can finally turn to deciding who will drive alongside the four-time champion in 2025. Will Tsunoda be retained?

It feels unlikely right now, given his lack of performance, but it’s always hard to judge exactly what the Red Bull bosses are thinking. Perhaps they want experience heading into the 2026 F1 regulations.

Racing Bulls staff really like Tsunoda, and they see his performance with them over the last few seasons as more of a reflection of his true skillset.

The season-ender in Abu Dhabi is a place that always brings the best of the Japanese driver out. But. Tsunoda’s last chance may come too late, and his team may already have made up their minds by then.

READ MORE: Laurent Mekies is ‘really struggling’ to drop Yuki Tsunoda due to doubts over one Red Bull driver

Yuki Tsunoda needs to utilise his mental ‘strengths’ to save his Formula 1 career

Red Bull ‘politics’ could save Tsunoda, according to Juan Pablo Montoya, with things having changed at the team in recent months.

Red Bull might have chosen their 2026 Racing Bulls line-up already, but an announcement isn’t expected until the week leading up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Before then, Tsunoda must utilise one of his great ‘strengths’ if he wants to save his drive. Mentally, he must block everything out and focus on the racing.

“The good thing is I had experience with that situation a lot of times,” he told Motorsport.com. “I know what I have to do for the next few races. In the end, those decisions I can’t control, right?

“So, what I can control is to give the performance and give my best. That’s what I enjoy, that’s what I’m here for, so that’s what I’m going to do.

“Obviously, I’m sure there’s some bit of nerves. It’s there, outside of racing, especially. But at the same time, one of my strengths is that once I have my helmet on, I just forget everything and am able to enjoy this Vegas scenery.”

READ MORE: Desperate F1 driver told he’s becoming an ‘irrelevance’, his career could be over after Abu Dhabi

What has Yuki Tsunoda’s form been like over the last five Formula 1 races?

Laurent Mekies thinks Tsunoda is ‘incredible’, and it might be a bit of an indication as to why he hasn’t dropped him yet.

However, over the last five races, his results don’t align with someone who looks like they’re fighting for their career in a front-running car. The edge currently lies with Isack Hadjar for the role.

A sixth place, a seventh place, and three non-scores are probably not going to be enough for Tsunoda to be retained.

A real and genuine statement would be a podium, but it doesn’t feel like he has been close to that all season. If ever there’s a time for him to find something, it’s now.