After accumulating 111 Grand Prix starts since his top-tier debut in 2021 \u2013 highlighted by a career-best fourth-place finish at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix \u2013 Tsunoda spent this season serving as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull Racing. With Formula 1 race seats remaining tightly contested, a transition to American racing would follow a trail successfully blazed by fellow countryman Takuma Sato, who evolved from F1 driver to a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old Japanese native is somewhat familiar with Indy car machinery, having driven one during a Honda promotional event in late 2024 ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. <\/a>Stepping into a Honda-powered #93 entry prepared by Chip Ganassi Racing, Tsunoda received hands-on coaching from six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. He logged two runs totaling roughly 30 minutes at an estimated 1.3-mile circuit outside of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n Photo by: Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n At the time, Tsunoda acknowledged the allure of living and racing in the United States during a subsequent media roundtable, he did not downplay the intimidating nature of American oval racing and the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n “If I have an opportunity and I feel it\u2019s the right time, for sure I would love to,” Tsunoda said at the time. “I like the US itself, so I don\u2019t mind living here as well. But I feel like it’s not the time because I can\u2019t imagine driving at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, more than a two-hour race and we do more than 200 mph or whatever every lap. For me, it\u2019s scary. I can\u2019t imagine myself driving more than two hours and being in that car. I don\u2019t know. For now, I am not really aiming or thinking about IndyCar, but yeah, why not in the future?”<\/p>\n That hypothetical future may now be taking concrete shape as negotiations progress toward a potential 2027 debut.<\/p>\n When reached for comment, MSR co-owner Mike Shank told\u00a0Motorsport.com<\/a>, \u201cWe have not decided anything yet. We are talking to everybody in every form of motorsports that are\u00a0<\/p>\n comparable or pertinent to IndyCar. We\u2019re still vetting folks that are coming along, and looking at all kinds of options.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Also:<\/p>\n We want your opinion!<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?<\/p>\n![\"Yuki](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/yuki-tsunoda-red-bull-racing.jpg\")
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