Alex Albon: Yuki Tsunoda 'Extremely Talented' and Deserves F1 Seat Despite Red Bull Reserve Role

Alex Albon has expressed sympathy and strong support for Yuki Tsunoda, following the confirmation that the Japanese driver will transition to a reserve role within the Red Bull organization from 2026. Albon believes Tsunoda's talent warrants a continued place on the Formula 1 grid, drawing parallels to his own career trajectory after losing his Red Bull race seat.

Why it matters:

After a turbulent 2025 season that saw Tsunoda promoted to the senior Red Bull team from Racing Bulls, only to be replaced by rookie Isack Hadjar, his future as a full-time F1 driver is in question. This move highlights Red Bull's aggressive driver development strategy and the intense pressure on young talent within their program. For Tsunoda, a reserve role offers a lifeline but also a challenging path back to a race seat.

The Details:

• Red Bull confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will not continue as a race driver beyond the 2025 season.
• He will transition to a test and reserve driver role for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, starting in 2026.
• Tsunoda began the 2025 season with Racing Bulls but was promoted to the senior team, swapping places with Liam Lawson for the Japanese Grand Prix.
• Rookie Isack Hadjar, who has had an impressive debut, will partner Max Verstappen from 2026.
• Alex Albon, speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, stated he believes Tsunoda is "extremely talented" and "deserves a place in Formula 1."
• Albon himself spent 2021 as a Red Bull reserve driver after struggling to match Verstappen's performance in 2020 before making a successful return to the grid with Williams.
• Albon expressed hope that Tsunoda can make an impact in his reserve role and find a path back to a full-time F1 seat, noting the opportunities that can still arise.
• Arvid Lindblad has been promoted to a Racing Bulls seat alongside Liam Lawson for next year, making him the only rookie on the 2026 grid outside of Hadjar at Red Bull.

What's next:

Albon's personal experience of returning to F1 from a reserve role offers a glimmer of hope for Tsunoda. The Japanese driver will need to leverage his new position to prove his worth, potentially relying on the performance of the new Racing Bulls lineup – Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson – to open future opportunities. While Tsunoda's immediate F1 race career is on hold, his continued involvement with Red Bull ensures he remains within contention should a seat become available.