Yuki Tsunoda stepped back into the spotlight when Racing Bulls ran him in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, proving he still sways a midfield car despite the long lay‑off.
Swift Call‑Back From a Greek Getaway
While sun‑bathing on a Greek beach, Tsunoda received a call from Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer on Tuesday, following an earlier Friday warning of Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury. The Japanese driver confirmed that he was physically ready for the stand‑in, though he noted the 2026 machinery required significant adaptation.
Although Tsunoda had exercised the Red‑Bull car in the simulator this year, the live car’s behaviour differed markedly, especially in power‑unit deployment and tyre wear.
Zandvoort: A Lesson in Versatility
At Zandvoort, Tsunoda’s lap times kept him close to teammate Arvid Lindblad’s. He qualified 12th in both sessions and finished 11th, narrowly passing Lindblad in the final laps.
“I managed to progress faster than expected,” Tsunoda said after the race, noting he had raced only four times in the past eight months since his last appearance in Abu Dhabi.
He added that while energy management wasn’t the decisive factor on the energy‑rich circuit, the shift from the ground‑effect cars of recent years to the new 2026 package demanded an extensive learning curve.
Key challenges for the driver included mastering deployment settings, button mapping and the unusually rapid tyre degradation on the circuit. “The team supported me so well that I could push the car to 100 %,” he recalled. “I’m proud, even if I didn’t score a point – I shadowed the top eight until the final laps.”
Ambition Translated Into Heat‑On‑Track Demand
Tsunoda reiterated that Formula 1 remains his primary objective, but he “doesn’t want to sit on the sidelines again.” With 112 F1 starts under his belt, he believes he has proven his ability to competitors in the paddock.
“I want teams to be sure they’re not missing out on a driver who can carve through midfield,” Tsunoda told motorsport.com. He hinted at IndyCar as a fall‑back plan for 2027 if F1 doors stayed closed, but insisted on remaining hungry for a full‑time F1 seat.
Call‑Back Appeal for 2027
During a post‑race interview, Tsunoda paused for long, then asked Racing Bulls’ press officer how best to respond to media questions. He concluded with a light‑hearted plea to teams: “Call me, please!” – a final push for a decision‑making March.
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Photo by Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
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