Yuki Tsunoda could be preparing for a fresh motorsport adventure, with the Japanese driver reportedly lined up for an IndyCar test outing later this month as his prospects of returning to Formula 1’s grid continue to look uncertain.
According to a report from RACER’s Marshall Pruett, the Red Bull reserve driver is expected to participate in a test at Barber Motorsports Park on October 26, potentially joining Meyer Shank Racing as the American outfit evaluates talent and develops its machinery.
Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the prospect is intriguing.
After five seasons in F1 and a demotion from Red Bull’s race seat at the end of 2025, Tsunoda may be exploring a route that keeps his career moving rather than waiting indefinitely for another opportunity in the championship.
Honda connection could open an American door
Tsunoda’s longstanding relationship with Honda would make an IndyCar move a logical possibility, even if the immediate opportunities are limited.
This year, following Isack Hadjar’s temporary availability and Liam Lawson’s three-race promotion to Red Bull, Tsunoda subbed for the Kiwi at Racing Bulls at Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid.
While he acquitted himself well, the prospect of a race seat in F1 appears extremely remote, which in turn has led to a potential move across the Atlantic as an alternative path back to full-time competition.
Tsunoda is no stranger to IndyCar machinery. He sampled one of the American series’ cars in November 2024 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway road course during a Honda-organised crossover event involving Formula 1, IMSA and IndyCar.
©Honda
His initial impression was decidedly positive.
"It's cool, it's a good car," Tsunoda told Road & Track at the time. "There is no tyre blanket, the brakes are using a similar carbon material, but how the brake works is quite different.
“It just feels a bit more like karting, like a car that you can play around more.
“That feels quite nice, you can drift around a little bit... you can slide the car around. Straight away, I went full throttle, I was able to push a little bit more. It feels good...”
Those comments suggest Tsunoda enjoyed the freedom of a car that offers a rather different driving experience from the highly sophisticated machinery he has spent recent years wrestling with in F1.
A possible route towards 2028?
An appearance at Barber would not necessarily signal an imminent switch. The IndyCar driver market offers little immediate room for manoeuvre, with Dale Coyne Racing currently the only Honda-powered team understood to have an unfilled seat for 2027.
However, the longer-term picture could be more interesting. MSR is set to run Honda’s manufacturer charter entry in 2028, potentially creating an opportunity worth investigating well ahead of time.
An evaluation test would give both Tsunoda and the team a chance to assess whether their respective ambitions and technical requirements align.
He is not the only name reportedly in the frame for Honda’s longer-term plans. According to RACER, 2024 IndyCar Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist, and Super Formula charger Kakunoshin Ohta, are also understood to be candidates for Honda’s 2028 factory seat.
For Tsunoda, then, Barber could represent more than a chance to sample a different racing car.
With his F1 future hanging in the balance, the test may offer an early glimpse of a possible new chapter – although any IndyCar destination remains speculative until a deal materialises.
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