Honda has commented on the future of Yuki Tsunoda at his current employer, Red Bull. The Japanese driver has not been able to achieve much in his short time with the Austrian racing team, with a ninth place at the Bahrain GP being his best result so far. However, Honda’s top executive, Koji Watanabe, promises that Tsunoda will not be dismissed from Red Bull before the end of the season.
Last March, the long-awaited promotion to Red Bull finally came for Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver replaced Liam Lawson, who failed to make a significant impact in his two races for the Austrian team. However, Tsunoda does not seem to be able to handle the capricious RB21 much better. The Japanese driver has only made it into the top ten three times for the Austrians, and did not score any World Championship points in the last five Grands Prix. Rumors about a possible end to Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull are therefore circulating, but according to Honda, the Japanese driver does not need to worry this season.
Honda Racing Chairman Koji Watanabe told Japanese AS that Tsunoda will definitely finish the season with Red Bull. “First of all, there has been no discussion about a transfer during the summer break,” the top executive said. The Japanese Honda is Tsunoda’s personal sponsor. “During discussions with Red Bull in March, we agreed to transfer Yuki to Red Bull. We said then: ‘Just because his performance is a bit poor, we’re not going to start discussions about a transfer right away. We will adopt a long-term vision.’ So I don’t think he will be transferred during the summer break.”
2026
At a subsequent meeting during the race weekend in Silverstone, Red Bull still promised that Tsunoda would be allowed to finish the season at least. “I know there are various rumors going around, but I confirmed it with the team in Silverstone. I would like to make it clear that Yuki will in principle race for Red Bull until the end of this season.” If Tsunoda wants to stay with Red Bull in 2026, the Japanese driver will have to step up his game. “If he can achieve results somewhere in the second half of the season, I think that will increase his options for the future,” Watanabe concludes.
