Tsunoda, Zhou Headline 2026 F1 Reserve Driver Roster

The 2026 F1 reserve driver lineup is headlined by Yuki Tsunoda, who steps into a reserve role at Red Bull after being replaced by Isack Hadjar. He joins a cohort of former full-time drivers, including Guanyu Zhou at Cadillac and Antonio Giovinazzi at Ferrari, as teams balance experience with promising talent from Formula 2.

Why it matters:

The reserve driver role is a critical safety net and a strategic asset for F1 teams. For drivers like Tsunoda, it's a high-pressure platform to prove their worth and secure a future return to the grid. For teams, it provides immediate, experienced replacements in case of illness or injury, while also serving as a testing ground for the next generation of talent aiming for a breakthrough into the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

Here's a look at the confirmed reserve drivers across the grid for the upcoming season:

• Red Bull: Yuki Tsunoda is the most high-profile name, losing his race seat to Isack Hadjar.
• Ferrari: Antonio Giovinazzi, a former Alfa Romeo driver, balances this role with his commitments in the World Endurance Championship.
• Cadillac: Guanyu Zhou continues in a reserve capacity after spending the 2025 season in a similar role with Ferrari.
• McLaren: Pato O’Ward retains his role, bringing IndyCar experience to the team.
• Mercedes: Frederik Vesti, a former F2 title contender, serves as the team's reserve.
• Williams: Luke Browning, a rising British star, steps into the reserve role.
• Alpine: Paul Aron, another highly-rated F2 driver, is on standby for the French team.
• Racing Bulls: Ayumu Iwasa continues his association with the Red Bull family in a reserve capacity.
• Aston Martin: Jak Crawford, part of the Red Bull junior program, takes up the role at Aston Martin.
• Haas: Ryō Hirakawa, a Super GT champion and Toyota WEC driver, provides experience and feedback.
• Audi: The German manufacturer's choice is yet to be confirmed as they prepare for their debut season.

What's next:

For Tsunoda, the 2026 season is a crucial audition to secure a race seat for 2027, whether within the Red Bull family or elsewhere. The young F2 prospects will be eager to impress during simulator work and potential free practice sessions to make their case for a full-time drive in the near future. All eyes will remain on Audi to see who they finalize as their reserve driver as they build their operational infrastructure ahead of their first race.