Yuki Tsunoda is in danger of losing his Red Bull seat. And the shocking twist? A French driver might be ready to take his place!
Three races, three missed chances. Tsunoda knows his future is getting darker as the season moves on. Rumors are intensifying about the Japanese driver’s seat at Red Bull Racing.
Tsunoda struggling against the competition
For months now, Yuki Tsunoda has been struggling to convince the Red Bull bosses. His results have fallen short of expectations. Moreover, his lack of consistency has worried Helmut Marko. The latter has actually issued a clear ultimatum: if he doesn’t start scoring regularly, he risks losing his seat at Red Bull.
The situation is even trickier with Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar both delivering strong performances. Hadjar, in particular, has impressed in his debut season. His ability to shine in a difficult car has become the talk of the paddock.
The Red Bull seat, a trap for Verstappen’s teammates
For several seasons, this seat has seemed cursed. No driver has managed to hold onto it for long alongside Max Verstappen. From Gasly to Pérez, and even Albon, all eventually crumbled under the pressure. Now, Tsunoda seems to be heading down the same path.
Even with identical equipment, the Japanese driver remains too far off Verstappen’s pace. At Zandvoort, the performance gap was once again glaring. Helmut Marko is no longer hiding his frustration and insists that immediate improvement is essential.
Hadjar, the french option Red Bull loves
As Tsunoda struggles, Isack Hadjar, on the other hand, emerges as the ideal candidate for Red Bull’s seat. The young French driver has already made waves in qualifying and looks like a genuine rising star. The team could give him a unique opportunity in Formula 1 by handing him the seat.
Still, some insiders believe it might be too soon. Laurent Mekies, the new key figure at Racing Bulls, could decide to hold off. His goal may be to protect Hadjar from premature exposure and buy Tsunoda just a bit more time.
A decision coming before the end of the season
Yuki Tsunoda’s future will depend heavily on the upcoming races. Red Bull is expected to make its decision before the Mexican Grand Prix. If Tsunoda doesn’t show a real rebound, his place next to Verstappen could quickly change hands.
For Isack Hadjar, it would be the chance to join one of Formula 1’s top teams. But it also represents a massive challenge. After all, keeping that coveted Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen has become one of the toughest puzzles in modern F1.