Red Bull's Contingency Plan: Tsunoda as a 2027 Fallback Option

As speculation about Max Verstappen's future simmers, Red Bull could turn to a familiar but overlooked name as a fallback option for 2027: Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver, recently relegated to a reserve role after five seasons, is positioned as a low-cost, ready-made contingency should the team face the unexpected departure of its star driver, despite his own recent struggles against the Verstappen benchmark.

Why it matters:

The stability of Red Bull's driver lineup is central to its championship ambitions. Verstappen's occasional vocal frustrations, while not indicating an imminent exit, force the team to consider all scenarios. Having a viable Plan B, especially one already integrated into the organization, is a critical risk management strategy in the volatile F1 driver market, where top-tier talent is often locked into long-term contracts.

The details:

• Tsunoda's promotion to the senior Red Bull team for 2025 was followed by a difficult season, largely spent outside the points and overshadowed by Verstappen's performances, leading to his return to a reserve role for 2026.
• Red Bull moved quickly to fill its 2026 seat with promising rookie Isack Hadjar, who impressed at Racing Bulls, effectively closing the immediate door on Tsunoda's full-time return.
• The Verstappen Factor: While a Verstappen exit is considered speculative, his growing discontent with the current regulatory era is a variable Red Bull cannot ignore. His decision to skip the post-Japanese GP Pirelli tire test, replaced by Tsunoda, underscored his current mindset.
• Tsunoda's Profile: He possesses significant F1 experience and has shown flashes of strong pace, particularly during his time at AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls. His familiarity with Red Bull's systems and culture is a key asset in a hypothetical emergency scenario.

What's next:

For now, Red Bull's focus remains firmly on supporting Verstappen and developing Hadjar. The Tsunoda scenario is a remote contingency, not an active plan.

• Tsunoda will use his reserve role and test opportunities, like the one in Suzuka, to stay sharp and advocate for a future return.
• The real test of this theory would only come if Verstappen seriously entertains leaving, triggering a scramble for a replacement at a time when most elite drivers are under contract. In such a crisis, an in-house option like Tsunoda might become a pragmatic, short-term solution.