Yuki Tsunoda reflects on losing not just his Red Bull seat but also F1, as Isack Hadjar braces for new journey and Liam Lawson relieved to still be there.
The inevitable happened after Qatar when Red Bull informed Tsunoda about relegating him to a reserve for in F1 2026, while promoting Hadjar into the senior seat alongside Max Verstappen. After the Japanese had issues, when the Frenchman showed pace, it was just a formality to happen.
It might still be a swift move to Red Bull seat, but with the regulations being brand new, Hadjar will hope to not fall in the same trap as others. He will be Verstappen’s seventh teammate at Red Bull after Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda.
For now, Hadjar is excited for the new start, as is his Visa Cash App RB teammate Lawson. The Kiwi will get to start his second full season in F1 albeit this time without the pressure of relegation. The Kiwi was relieved with the news after Qatar. He didn’t think as much about Red Bull return in the time.
He will play the senior role in F1 2026 alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad. For Tsunoda, there is disappointment for sure but it hasn’t hit him that he won’t be racing in F1 next year. He is bracing to see the sport from different eyes, something that others have done after Red Bull drop.
Each of the five drivers managed to stay on in F1 despite the drop. Tsunoda revealed that he had external options but his Red Bull contract didn’t allow him to discuss on those. It seems like the Red Bull deal triumphs the Honda partnership, with the Japanese manufacturer moving with Aston Martin – without the Japanese driver in frame for 2026 at least.
Feelings after losing out –
Tsunoda: “Yeah, obviously I’m disappointed, obviously, and pissed off. How it was told was…it was right after the race [in Qatar], from Helmut, yeah, privately. Yeah, I think that’s it. Surprisingly, I’m okay. I mean, not okay, but I’m somewhat okay. After the day out in the morning, I was like…yeah, I ordered breakfast as usual, same food. Yeah, probably I’m not recognising it after. It will be the last race for this year, for next year. Yeah, maybe I’ll feel more after Abu Dhabi. But yeah, that’s how I went and how I feel now. Best race was, I think Qatar sprint race, if I can include that. Otherwise, my worst race was Austria.”
Had no other options –
Tsunoda: “Well, I didn’t have options. The thing is, my contract was there, so I couldn’t do much with that. I had a couple of interests from externally, but yeah, the contract didn’t really allow me to talk with them or whatever. So yeah, that’s why I was fully focused on the Red Bull seats. Anyway, it was my priority for the last few years to be with the Red Bull family, because it’s the place where I grew up as well. Yeah, that’s it.”
Reserve role can be worked for good –
Tsunoda: “I mean I am excited to see from a different perspective, different eyes next year, because it’s the first time in my career that I’m not racing. I was not really sitting down in the office while people are racing. I can’t refer to it this way, I can see more open view, have a better communication with whatever every driver is doing. So maybe I can learn a lot of things that I never imagined, so I’m excited for that. I’ll also try to be in this shape as much as possible. Whenever any opportunity comes, I’ll smash it with the opportunity. Until then, keep my shape good and wait for it.”
Honda collab –
Tsunoda: “Yeah, I appreciate their support over the years. Let’s see how it goes in the future. I appreciate a lot of Honda’s support, I love the people as well. Next year is going to be a little bit different direction we’re going to take, but we’ll still be around. We’ll see how we can collaborate with each other.”
New contract –
Hadjar: “Yeah. It’s a very good moment in my career, that’s for sure. For all the hard work through the years being rewarded now. Obviously, it’s just the beginning of a new journey, but yeah, I’m very excited and stepping into a new era of Formula 1 as well. I think it’s a very good timing.”
Lawson: “Yeah, I mean it is a little bit more pressure obviously, but I think I was in this position last year as well at the end of the season and even still actually up until Abu Dhabi. I felt that I’ve been through it a few times before and it doesn’t make it easy but it’s something that we’re definitely used to in this team and in this environment. It’s probably more relief than anything right now. It’s also nice going into this weekend knowing, I can’t really remember the last time I had that. I’ll try and enjoy the weekend a little bit but I think it’s very positive and exciting to go into next year and spend the off-season with a proper plan.”
Who told –
Hadjar: “Yeah, it was, again, like, there was no very cool phone call where I pick up the phone and it’s like “Yeah, you’re a Red Bull Racing driver,” you know? It’s not really how it worked. It was just a talk with Helmut I had. He made me understand I was driving for Red Bull, and I had to deliver. That’s it.”
Lawson: “[I found out] after the race in Qatar actually, so I didn’t know before the weekend, as much as I was trying to find out during the weekend, it was after the race. It was cool because Alan as well was the one who told me.”
New start –
Hadjar: “Yeah, I have no expectations at all because it’s starting from scratch, everyone. So yeah, the work is going to be done. I’m just really looking forward to January, February, working with the team, getting to know all the people. Yeah. It’s going to be crucial to try and be ahead a bit.”
Red Bull return chance –
Lawson: “It’s not honestly something I’ve really thought about this year, especially with how when I came back it was a very tricky few races. I think for the first part of this year honestly I was focusing on finding my feet again and getting used to this car. I’d missed the first part of the pre-season with the development where the car was going. We actually made some changes to the car to make it a bit more comfortable for me during the season. So it’s honestly not something I’ve really thought about.”
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