Tsunoda drives historic Red Bull F1 car in Istanbul as Turkish GP return confirmed

Yuki Tsunoda returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, driving Sebastian Vettel's championship-winning 2012 Red Bull RB8 in a demonstration run through Istanbul. The event coincided with Formula 1's official announcement that the Turkish Grand Prix will return to the calendar starting in 2027. Tsunoda, currently a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls, used the outing to stay sharp as he targets a full-time return to the grid for the 2027 season.

Why it matters:

For a driver sidelined from a race seat, maintaining a connection with current teams and machinery is crucial for a potential comeback. This demonstration served a dual purpose: keeping Tsunoda in the public eye and operational mindset while also acting as a high-profile promotional event to celebrate the confirmed return of the Turkish Grand Prix, linking F1's past champions with its future calendar.

The details:

• Tsunoda piloted the historic RB8, the car with which Sebastian Vettel secured his third world championship, on both the streets of Istanbul and the Istanbul Park circuit.
• His last outing in this specific car was in San Francisco in February, which ended abruptly when the vehicle caught fire, forcing a swift exit.
• The Japanese driver lost his race seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull to Isack Hadjar after scoring points in only seven of 22 starts in his most recent season.
• He now serves as the official reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Racing Bulls.
• Tsunoda has publicly pointed to Sergio Perez's career path as a model; Perez took a year off in 2025 before returning with the new Cadillac team, demonstrating that a hiatus can be a strategic reset rather than a career end.

What's next:

Tsunoda's immediate focus is his reserve role, where he aims to learn and position himself for a 2027 comeback. The confirmed return of the Turkish Grand Prix adds a significant and popular circuit back to the F1 roster, with Istanbul Park set to host races again from the 2027 season onward. For Tsunoda, every demonstration run and simulator session is now a step toward achieving his goal of returning to the grid when the sport arrives at that revived venue.