Red Bull Praises Tsunoda's Skills Amidst Demotion to Reserve Role for 2026

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has lauded Yuki Tsunoda's driving prowess, highlighting his “exceptional starts and excellent racecraft,” even as the team announced his demotion to a test and reserve role for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Isack Hadjar is set to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull, while Liam Lawson secured the Racing Bulls seat over Tsunoda for 2026.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's decision to reassign Tsunoda, despite high praise for his on-track abilities, underscores the intense competition and performance demands within the Red Bull driver development program. It also highlights the strategic importance of nurturing talent like Hadjar and Lindblad for future contention, demonstrating Red Bull's long-term planning beyond immediate results.

The Details:

• 2026 Driver Lineup Changes: Isack Hadjar, following a promising debut F1 campaign at Racing Bulls, will move up to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. Arvid Lindblad is confirmed to join Racing Bulls, while Liam Lawson retained his seat, leaving Tsunoda in a test and reserve capacity.
• Tsunoda's 2025 Struggles: Tsunoda's performance in the 2025 season at Red Bull, where he replaced Liam Lawson, was notably subpar. He was significantly outscored by Max Verstappen, accumulating only 30 points compared to Verstappen's 396 points in a three-way title fight.
• Mekies's Assessment: Laurent Mekies acknowledged Tsunoda's maturity as a “complete racer,” commending his “exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday.” However, Mekies's more reserved description of Tsunoda's one-lap pace as merely “good” points to a critical area of inconsistency.
• Qualifying Disparity: The 'good' assessment of Tsunoda's qualifying performance is starkly reflected in his 25-1 qualifying record against Verstappen, including a 21-0 deficit in non-sprint sessions. This suggests a significant gap in raw pace over a single lap compared to his teammate.
• Personality and Future Role: Mekies also emphasized Tsunoda's infectious personality, noting he has become a “very special part of the Red Bull family.” His future role will involve providing “invaluable support to the 2026 projects,” hinting at his continued involvement in simulator work and car development.

What's next:

Yuki Tsunoda's transition to a reserve and test driver role for 2026 indicates a strategic shift within Red Bull's driver pool, prioritizing emerging talents like Hadjar and Lindblad for race seats. While Tsunoda's potential for “exceptional starts and excellent racecraft” is recognized, the team's decision points to a demand for more consistent performance, particularly in qualifying. His ongoing involvement in 2026 projects suggests Red Bull values his experience for development, even if his immediate F1 racing career is on hold.