Tsunoda Returns to Red Bull Cockpit in Busy Post-Race Test Day

Yuki Tsunoda turned his first meaningful laps since losing his race seat to Isack Hadjar for the 2026 season, climbing back into a Formula 1 cockpit for a TPC test at Barcelona immediately after Sunday's Grand Prix. The Japanese reserve driver completed two full race distances in the Catalan heat and remarked that it felt like he had never left, headlining a busy Tuesday of post-race action that also included McLaren running its development drivers at Monza and Ferrari, Cadillac and Aston Martin contributing to a Pirelli tyre evaluation programme at the same Spanish circuit.

Why it matters:

For Tsunoda, the mileage is more than a morale boost; it keeps him race-sharp in a reserve role that could suddenly become critical if either Max Verstappen or Hadjar is unable to compete. Meanwhile, the flurry of TPC and tyre tests highlights how teams now treat every available on-track window as precious real estate for data gathering and young driver development, even in the immediate aftermath of a race weekend.

The details:

• Red Bull TPC: Tsunoda drove a previous-spec Red Bull at Barcelona, logging two race distances. He remains under contract as a reserve driver for the senior team in 2026.
• McLaren at Monza: The Woking-based squad conducted a TPC at Monza with reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and simulator regular Will Stevens. Fornaroli, who is also scheduled for a Haas TPC at Jerez, thanked the McLaren Driver Development Programme for its continued backing.
• Pirelli tyre test: The opening day of a two-day programme saw Charles Leclerc post the fastest time for Ferrari with a 1:16.619 across 134 laps. Cadillac's Guanyu Zhou completed 54 laps and a 1:21.543 but encountered technical issues, while Aston Martin's Jak Crawford led the lap count with 146 tours and a best of 1:23.709.

What's next:

The Pirelli test resumes at Barcelona on Wednesday with Zhou continuing for Cadillac and Arthur Leclerc replacing his brother Charles in the Ferrari. Fornaroli will also take his planned seat time with Haas at Jerez, ensuring the midweek running stretches across two countries as teams and juniors continue banking crucial mileage.