Yuki Tsunoda has beaten teammate Max Verstappen for the first time in a qualifying session! In the lead-up to the sprint race in Qatar, the Japanese driver qualified fifth, one place ahead of the four-time world champion. This sends a significant signal to Red Bull, which intends to make a decision about the line-up for 2026 in the aftermath of the race weekend in Qatar.
On Friday, Tsunoda clocked a lap time of 1:20.519, just nine-thousandths of a second faster than Verstappen. However, this performance in the sprint qualifying could be crucial for the 25-year-old driver. After a disappointing debut season with Red Bull, his future in Formula 1 is far from certain. There is already a high chance that he will return to Racing Bulls next year, but several drivers are vying for a seat there. Liam Lawson is keen to stay in the premier class, while Red Bull junior and Formula 2 talent Arvid Lindblad is also making a strong case for himself.
Isack Hadjar – the revelation of Racing Bulls – is the favorite to succeed Tsunoda. In the run-up to the sprint weekend, the Japanese driver was already asked about next year. He stated that he knows a few things for sure, although he was not allowed to elaborate further. His own future was still open, although he did express that he does not aspire to a role as a test and reserve driver.
