Tsunoda's Red Bull future uncertain after Marko's departure

Yuki Tsunoda will be a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2026 after losing his race seat to Isack Hadjar, despite Helmut Marko's assurances that the role offers a pathway back. However, Marko's impending exit from Red Bull casts doubt on whether his promise will be honored by the team's new leadership.

Why it matters:

Tsunoda's demotion highlights the brutal competitiveness of Red Bull's driver program, where even a promotion to the senior team mid-season wasn't enough to secure his long-term future. Marko's departure removes a key advocate for Tsunoda within the organization, potentially leaving the Japanese driver's F1 career in a precarious position despite his official reserve role.

The details:

• Tsunoda was informed after the Qatar Grand Prix that the Abu Dhabi finale would be his last race for Red Bull, regardless of any potential aid to Max Verstappen in the championship fight.
• The 2026 driver lineup was finalized with Isack Hadjar moving to Red Bull, Liam Lawson staying at Racing Bulls, and Arvid Lindblad promoted from F2, leaving Tsunoda as the odd man out.
• Marko explained the decision to a "very disappointed" Tsunoda, emphasizing that the reserve role for four cars "always gives a chance" and that Racing Bulls is meant for junior drivers, making a sixth season there unsuitable.
• Tsunoda's season ended with him third-from-last in the drivers' standings, while Verstappen fell two points short of the world title.

Looking ahead:

The critical unknown is how Red Bull's new management, post-Marko, will view Tsunoda. His future now depends less on a promised pathway and more on the team's needs and his performance in the simulator. Without Marko's influence, Tsunoda's position as reserve driver may be more of a holding pattern than a guaranteed springboard back to a race seat.