Red Bull Contract Prevented Yuki Tsunoda From Holding Talks With Rival F1 Teams
Former Red Bull Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda has revealed that restrictive clauses in his contract stopped him from engaging in discussions with other teams, ultimately leaving him without a race seat for the 2026 season.
The Japanese driver was dropped from Red Bull’s racing line-up following a difficult 2025 campaign and will now serve as the team’s test and reserve driver next year. Red Bull opted to promote highly rated rookie Isack Hadjar to the senior team, while teenage prospect Arvid Lindblad has been handed a full-time Formula 1 opportunity with Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda’s demotion marked the end of a long journey within Red Bull’s driver programme — a system he joined early in his career and hoped would eventually lead him to sustained success at the front of the grid. However, his struggles to adapt to the team’s demanding car philosophy ultimately worked against him.
Car Compatibility Proved Costly
Red Bull’s current car design heavily favors the aggressive driving style of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, and Tsunoda found it difficult to consistently extract performance from the package. While he showed flashes of strong race pace, his qualifying performances often lagged behind expectations, particularly on Saturdays — a weakness that left Red Bull frequently fighting with only one competitive car.
Despite this, many observers were surprised that Tsunoda failed to secure interest from rival teams, especially given his experience and occasional standout performances. Tsunoda has now explained that the lack of movement was not due to a shortage of interest, but rather contractual limitations.
Speaking to the media ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Tsunoda opened up about his situation.
“I didn’t really have any options,” he admitted. “My contract was already in place, and because of that, I wasn’t allowed to do much. There was some interest from outside teams, but the contract didn’t allow me to have proper conversations with them.”
He added that his loyalty to Red Bull played a significant role in how he approached his career.
“For the last few years, my focus was entirely on Red Bull. This is the environment where I grew up as a driver, so staying within the Red Bull family was always my priority.”
Emotional Reaction to Losing His Seat
Tsunoda also spoke candidly about the moment he was informed that he would not be racing in 2026. According to the 25-year-old, the news was delivered privately by Red Bull’s long-time motorsport advisor Helmut Marko shortly after a race weekend.
“I was obviously disappointed — and honestly, I was p****d off,” Tsunoda said. “Helmut told me right after the race, in private, that I wouldn’t be racing next year. That was basically it.”
While the decision came as a blow, Tsunoda admitted that the emotional impact had not fully sunk in immediately.
“Strangely, I was kind of okay — not okay, but I was managing,” he explained. “The next morning, I ordered breakfast like I always do, the same food, same routine.”
He suggested that the reality of the situation may only truly hit him later.
“I probably haven’t fully realised yet that this was my last race for this year — or at least for next year. Maybe after Abu Dhabi, the feeling will come more strongly. But for now, that’s just how it went and how I feel.”
Future Uncertain, But Not Over
Although Tsunoda will remain connected to Red Bull as a reserve and test driver, his comments suggest frustration at how limited his opportunities became due to contractual constraints. His situation highlights the double-edged nature of long-term driver agreements in Formula 1 — offering security on one hand while restricting freedom on the other.
Whether Tsunoda can use his reserve role as a stepping stone back to the grid remains unclear. With the 2026 regulations bringing significant technical changes, opportunities could emerge, but for now, the Japanese driver faces the challenge of staying sharp without regular race action.
For Tsunoda, the disappointment is evident — but so too is his determination to survive the setback and remain part of the Formula 1 world, even if his immediate future no longer lies on the starting grid.
