Red Bull has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will step out of a race seat at the end of the 2025 season. Isack Hadjar will join the team next year, while Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad will move into a full time position at Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Tsunoda will serve as a test and reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls during the 2026 season, ending his run on the Formula 1 grid five years after debuting with AlphaTauri.
Tsunoda said he learned of the decision after the Qatar Grand Prix. He described his immediate reaction as disappointing but noted that the full impact had not yet settled in. He said he shifted focus quickly to preparing for the final round in Abu Dhabi. According to Tsunoda, his aim remains to perform competitively and support Red Bull’s overall objectives during the last race weekend.
Tsunoda began the 2025 season at Racing Bulls after being passed over for a Red Bull seat during the winter. He was promoted to the senior team two rounds into the season as part of a seat swap with Liam Lawson. The transition placed him in direct comparison with Max Verstappen, a situation that has proven challenging for multiple Red Bull drivers over recent years. Tsunoda faced early qualifying exits and scored occasional points but struggled to match the performance of the leading car.
Reflecting on the move from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda said he felt some regret about leaving a car he contributed to developing under the current regulations. However, he said he understood the difficulty of the Red Bull seat and acknowledged that the team had given him considerable support in the closing stages of the season. He noted that he was encouraged by the reduced performance gap to Verstappen in recent races, describing this as a positive indication of progress.
Tsunoda has been documenting each race weekend to evaluate decisions and outcomes. He intends to continue using this approach during the final round and throughout his upcoming reserve role. He said he will deal with future career planning after the season ends and will leave discussions about long term direction to his management team.
Asked about potential moves to other racing series, Tsunoda said Formula 1 remains his only focus. He stated that it is too early to consider alternatives and that his motivation is to remain active within the F1 environment. He added that he will pursue any opportunities that help him stay competitive and prepared for potential future openings.
