ABU DHABI DAY 1

Tsunodaa: “I’m sure there’s my DNA inside” — Yuki reflects on losing his Red Bull seat.

Yuki Tsunoda, who has been competing in Formula 1 since 2021, will be left without a race seat in 2026. According to the Japanese driver, Helmut Marko personally informed him of the decision immediately after the race at the Qatar Grand Prix. Tsunoda spent four seasons with Visa Cash App RB (formerly Scuderia AlphaTauri), and on

March 27, 2025, it was officially announced that he would replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull starting from the Japanese Grand Prix. However, following the Qatar Grand Prix, it was confirmed that Isack Hadjar will take Tsunoda’s place at Red Bull from 2026.

Speaking to journalists during the media day at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda shared his emotions after learning that he would not continue as a full-time Red Bull Racing driver next year:

Surprisingly, I' m okay. After that day in the morning, I was like... I ordered breakfast as usual, same food.” Yuki Tsunoda

Tsunoda also confirmed that there had been external interest in him this season, but his contract situation prevented him from seriously considering those 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 the contract didn't really allow me to talk with them or whatever. That's why I was really 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.”

Despite losing his race seat, Tsunoda will remain within the Red Bull family as a reserve driver. Reflecting on whether he has any regrets about the path he chose, the Japanese driver admitted that the hardest part for him is letting go of the car he

helped develop. “Probably I was saying that I didn't have any regrets. The only regret I have is missing out that pretty good f*cking car. But also throwing away your kids, your baby. Because it's the car that I developed with the team throughout the years, since we have this regulation, and I'm sure there's my DNA inside as well.

Obviously missing out that, and finishing out without finally being able to get in the level that we wanted, is something that I miss it.”

Tsunoda’s seat will be taken by Isack Hadjar, who made an impressive Formula 1 rookie season this year. Hadjar revealed how he learned about his promotion during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix press conference, also confirming that the news came

from Helmut Marko:

“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."

Yuki Tsunoda leaves quietly, but not without leaving his mark. In an era where Formula 1 changes its skin with every season, his story reminds us that talent is not always measured in titles, but in what is left behind inside every machine, every

team, every lap that fails to appear in the statistics. Another driver will take the seat, but there are invisible parts — decisions, hours, adjustments, instincts — that wil remain embedded in that car as silent witnesses to his journey.

Because some drivers simply leave... and others, even in absence, continue to live within the DNA of Formula 1. ❙❘

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