Honda Confirms No Signed Deal for Tsunoda's 2026 Red Bull Reserve Role
Honda confirms Yuki Tsunoda lacks a signed 2026 contract with Red Bull, leaving his expected reserve driver role in limbo amid the manufacturer's looming switch to Aston Martin.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 future hangs in the balance after Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe confirmed that no agreement is in place for the Japanese driver to serve as a Red Bull reserve in 2026. Contrary to assumptions that his path to a reserve role was secured, negotiations with Red Bull are still ongoing, leaving Tsunoda in professional limbo as Honda prepares to shift its partnership to Aston Martin.
Why it matters:
This uncertainty marks a significant shift for a driver whose career has been heavily subsidized and guided by Honda since his junior days. With Honda exiting Red Bull to partner with Aston Martin, Tsunoda finds himself caught between a dissolving alliance and a new partnership that has yet to offer him a seat. His situation underscores the complex political maneuvering drivers face when engine manufacturers switch allegiances, potentially leaving a backed driver without a grid spot.
The details:
- No Contract Signed: Watanabe stated at the Tokyo Auto Salon that negotiations regarding Tsunoda’s contract are ongoing, but no specific agreement has been finalized for 2026.
- Red Bull’s Decision: The negotiations are not with Tsunoda directly but with Red Bull. Watanabe noted that the scope within which Honda can utilize Tsunoda depends entirely on the terms Red Bull proposes.
- No Aston Martin Safety Net: Despite Honda’s upcoming power unit partnership with Aston Martin, Watanabe poured cold water on the idea of Tsunoda moving there, confirming there are no such plans currently.
- Focus on Juniors: Honda intends to continue nurturing drivers up to F2 within its own HFDP program and will recommend those emerging talents to Aston Martin rather than slotting Tsunoda into the team.
What's next:
As the 2026 regulatory reset approaches, Tsunoda remains in a precarious position, relying on the outcome of discussions between two entities that are soon to be technical rivals. Without a guaranteed safety net at Aston Martin, his immediate F1 future depends entirely on Red Bull's willingness to accommodate a Honda-backed driver amidst their own Ford collaboration.