Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies commends Yuki Tsunoda for his amiable character. Despite these words of praise, Red Bull has yet to make a final decision on who will take the seat next to Max Verstappen for the upcoming season, leaving Tsunoda still in the running for a spot on the top team.
“He is an incredible individual,” Mekies said in the Talking Bull podcast. “The most sincere, friendly, and generous type. He is truly a friend of mine. Even if we see each other almost every weekend, he would drive 100 kilometers to have dinner with you.” Mekies also emphasized Tsunoda’s unique development in motorsport: “He has had a very unique career. He has pure speed and made a huge leap in his fourth year, a time when many drivers stabilize. His 2024 season with Racing Bulls was impressive, followed by a strong start to 2025. Now he gets the chance to prove himself with a top team like Red Bull Racing.”
Tsunoda remains a candidate for the seat next to Max Verstappen in 2026. The Japanese driver hopes to demonstrate in the last three Grands Prix of the season that he deserves the seat. However, he faces stiff competition from Isack Hadjar. At the sister team Racing Bulls, Hadjar has made an impression in his first year; the Frenchman even achieved a podium in Zandvoort. Red Bull will announce its choice for next season’s drivers around the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
