Yuki Tsunoda is facing up to the prospect of losing his Red Bull seat at the end of the season. The excitement surrounding his promotion in the spring unravelled rather rapidly.

Tsunoda has now raced 10 times for Red Bull and scored a mere seven points. In that period, only Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (four) and Haas’ Oliver Bearman (two) have scored fewer (among full-time drivers).

Most damningly, predecessor Liam Lawson has picked up 12 points at Racing Bulls. Tsunoda is far from the first highly-rated driver to be undone by the extreme handling characteristics of the Red Bull car.

DRIVERTEAMPTSLance StrollAston Martin10Yuki TsunodaRed Bull7Gabriel BortoletoSauber4Oliver BearmanHaas2Franco ColapintoAlpine0Jack DoohanAlpine0F1’s lowest points scorers over the last 10 races

A report last month suggested that Tsunoda was ‘certain’ to lose his seat at the end of the season. His backers, Honda, are splitting with Red Bull and supplying Aston Martin instead from 2026.

Yuki Tsunoda’s agent has spoken to Cadillac as Red Bull departure looms

Aston Martin aren’t an option for Tsunoda, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll under contract. Alpine also have a seat open, but appear to be looking at other candidates.

BBC journalist Andrew Benson says Tsunoda has almost a ‘zero percent’ chance of staying in F1, but there may be one last hope. Cadillac still haven’t signed either of their two drivers for their debut.

And according to Nate Saunders of ESPN’s Unlapped podcast, Tsunoda’s agent spoke to the American team at the Monaco GP. He’d scored points in back-to-back races at that stage, but he was still assessing his options.

Cadillac are speaking to a wide range of candidates. After back-to-back last-place finishes, Tsunoda will have to remind suitors of his strong form in the midfield.

“What Cadillac have actually been very clever about doing is that they’ve been talking to a lot of drivers – Formula 2 drivers, they’ve been talking to Mick Schumacher,” said Saunders.

“Earlier I mentioned Yuki leaving. His agent had a very brief conversation with Cadillac in Monaco.

“All standard stuff in the Formula 1 paddock, but it shows they’ve cast their net as wide as they can, and they want to talk to every driver available.”

Red Bull have one doubt about Isack Hadjar that could still save Yuki Tsunoda

Isack Hadjar is in line to replace Tsunoda if indeed Red Bull let the Japanese driver go. He has clearly been the second-best driver in their roster this season.

Hadjar is currently in the midst of a three-race scoreless run, but with 21 points, he still sits just outside the top 10 in the standings. Many feel he’s the standout rookie on the 2025 grid.

There is a slight worry about how Hadjar will respond to setbacks. Red Bull’s second driver has often had to fight a psychological battle as well as a mechanical one.

If there are lingering doubts, then perhaps a change will be delayed. Max Verstappen’s future could also be a factor, as a departure would surely require the team to sign an A-list driver from elsewhere.

Tsunoda’s former Racing Bulls boss, Laurent Mekies, has just replaced Christian Horner at Red Bull.