Red Bull still ‘fully supporting’ Tsunoda amid 2026 speculation

Red Bull has reiterated its commitment to supporting Yuki Tsunoda’s development, even as questions continue to swirl about the team’s 2026 driver line-up.

Team Principal Laurent Mekies stressed that the team is in “no rush” to make decisions and remains focused on helping Tsunoda progress after a difficult start to his promotion from the sister Racing Bulls team.

Tsunoda struggled to find points early in his Red Bull career, going seven races without scoring before breaking the streak with a P9 finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, his predecessor at the Milton Keynes-based outfit, Liam Lawson, who was moved back to Racing Bulls after just two races, has shown strong form in the sister team’s machinery, while Isack Hadjar’s maiden podium at Zandvoort has fueled speculation about a potential 2026 seat swap.

Mekies on Tsunoda’s Progress

Mekies, who previously worked with Tsunoda at Racing Bulls, remains optimistic about the 25-year-old’s potential, dismissing concerns that his speed has diminished.

“We don’t think speed can disappear. Yuki did a very good end of last year, and a very good first part of the season [with Racing Bulls],” he said after last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

“Of course, he has been having a rough time in the first part of the season with this team, but we take it race by race. It was a step forward in Spa. Budapest, it being our worst weekend, he was still very close in terms of pace to Max. He was a tenth and a half away from Max in qualifying.

“Normally, if you are a tenth and a half away from Max, it is going to give you a front row. But in Budapest, it meant being kicked out in Q1. He is progressing step by step.”

Mekies highlighted that the team remains patient and methodical with Tsunoda’s development, emphasizing incremental improvement rather than immediate results.

No Rush on 2026 Decisions

At Zandvoort, Mekies reiterated that Red Bull is in no rush to make a call on its 2026 line-up, or on who may have the best chances of partnering Max Verstappen in the coveted but challenging seat.

“We are not in a rush... We try to do the best we can to support our drivers, and we certainly see some refreshed approach with Yuki and we try to support his progress,” he said.

The Frenchman also addressed the technical challenges Tsunoda has faced in adapting to the Red Bull car, noting that development efforts are primarily focused on 2026, but current races are still valuable for learning.

“Pure development for this team, as with most teams, is now focused on 2026,” he added.

“However, it is key that we use these... remaining races to learn what we can on why this season hasn’t gone the way it was supposed to go.

“Especially when you are in a situation where you are not where you want to be, there are many things that you can use the race weekends to try and experiment with, and that applies to the team, that applies to the drivers, and that is the work that we are doing with both.”

• Read also: F1i Driver Ratings for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix

With Mekies emphasizing patience and structured support, Red Bull appears determined to continue nurturing Tsunoda’s talent while carefully considering its options for the next season.

The remaining races of the 2025 campaign will be crucial for both the team and the Japanese driver as they aim to close the gap and maximize the learning opportunities ahead.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook