Tsunoda under pressure as Red Bull eyes 2026 options

As Max Verstappen looks increasingly likely to remain at Red Bull for 2026, attention is shifting to who will partner him and whether Yuki Tsunoda can hold onto his seat.

The 25-year-old Japanese driver has struggled throughout 2025 so far and continues to trail Verstappen in both results and development priority.

At Spa, Red Bull’s new front wing upgrade is being fitted only to Verstappen’s car. "I was told yesterday that we will not be using these new features," Tsunoda confirmed. "I have a tough task ahead of me, given the density of the results. In such a situation, every little thing matters, but I will do my best."

Tsunoda is out of contract at the end of the season and will also lose the backing of Honda as the Japanese manufacturer transitions to Aston Martin in 2026, a team with no seats available.

While he’s been linked to the incoming Cadillac project, Tsunoda made clear at Spa that his preference is to stay with Red Bull.

"Things are going well, and I'm feeling more comfortable with every race," he said. "If you look at the results, it might not seem that way, but if we look at the data, the difference I had with Max in Silverstone in Q2 is pretty similar if we take the difference between the two packages into account."

He pointed to a technical issue that hampered his qualifying in Britain: "I lost just over a tenth. That cost me a place in Q3. Without that problem, I would have been about three tenths behind Max, and that's roughly the package difference."

Despite being excluded from the latest upgrade, Tsunoda insists he still has internal support, particularly from Dr Helmut Marko.

"Helmut is straightforward. If I perform poorly, he immediately tells me, but it's a kind of pressure that motivates me," Tsunoda said. "He's been working this way since I was a junior, and I really appreciate the support."

Incoming team boss Laurent Mekies - who previously worked closely with Tsunoda at Alpha Tauri-Racing Bulls and now leads Red Bull - offered a cautious vote of confidence.

"Yuki is a fast guy," Mekies said. "Circumstances have been difficult, but the team is very strongly behind him, trying to unlock what can be unlocked. Yes, I'm confident he will be able to show his true value in the near future."

Nonetheless, momentum appears to be building behind Red Bull junior and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who has impressed since making his debut this year. Hadjar, who now loses Mekies as his direct team principal, acknowledged the shift may help his case.

"I'm not going to lie, it could be useful, but we'll see - there are still 12 races left. I have to keep pushing," he said. "You're only worth what you put in in your last race."

Former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, now leading Alpine, has also been linked to a potential return, but downplayed the rumours in an interview with Auto Hebdo.

"My contract is with Alpine, and my goal is to win with this team," Gasly said. "This is the project I am dedicated to."

Asked about Horner’s departure, he added: "Christian's dismissal may seem abrupt, but they are used to it - I speak from experience."

For Tsunoda, the leadership change introduces fresh uncertainty. When asked at Spa if Horner’s exit could affect his future, he was measured. "I appreciate the way Christian supported me in previous races," he said. "I received a message from him yesterday saying, 'Give it your all.' It was nice to read that."

He then confirmed that the news was delivered by Helmut Marko: "That's all I can say about it".