Yuki Tsunoda insists his first priority is to remain a part of Red Bull’s Formula 1 programme in 2026 even if no vacancy opens up at its primary team.
Tsunoda is due to enter his fifth season in F1 with the squad now operating under the Racing Bulls banner, having made his debut with the team under its AlphaTauri guise in 2021.
However, Christian Horner warned in December that Tsunoda’s tenure at the energy drinks giant could be coming to an end, as he questioned whether it would “make sense” to keep him in 2026 if there was no chance of him landing a seat at Red Bull.
Red Bull’s partnership with Honda is also concluding after the 2025 season, with the Japanese manufacturer having initially announced its decision to leave F1 before completing a U-turn and signing an engine supply deal with rival outfit Aston Martin.
As such, staying within Red Bull could mean Tsunoda will be parting ways with a manufacturer that has backed his career from its early days, although the Japanese giant has suggested it will keep supporting him even if he isn't competing with a Honda engine.
But the 24-year-old revealed that his “main target” is to continue his association with the energy drinks firm, whether that means staying at Racing Bulls or being promoted to its main team alongside world champion Max Verstappen.
“It depends upon my performance, [like] every season,” he said of his future. “Obviously, I would like to stay at the Red Bull family.
“If I'm at Red Bull Racing, that's amazing. If not, still I would still love to be part of this team [Racing Bulls]. I've been in this team [for] five years already. I'm probably [the] most [longest-serving] driver in this team.
“I already feel like I'm connected to every person, which is for me very important as a driver to develop myself and focus on what I want to do.
“I feel a lot of support from them, which means a lot to me. Whatever happens there's going to be interesting options, but obviously my main target is to be in this team, the Red Bull family.”
Tsunoda was in contention for a Red Bull drive for 2025 following the team’s decision to drop Sergio Perez due to a lack of results.
The Japanese driver even tested the car in Abu Dhabi last year in the hope of gaining one of the most coveted seats on the grid, only for Red Bull to snub him in favour of Liam Lawson.
Kiwi racer Lawson had impressed Red Bull during two substitute stints with AlphaTauri/RB in 2023 and ‘24 as replacement for Daniel Ricciardo, but his lack of F1 experience compared to Tsunoda meant that the public opinion was split over the decision.
Speaking about the matter, Tsunoda said he wasn’t “angry or disappointed” when he learned about Red Bull’s choice and is looking forward to leading the rebranded Racing Bulls squad this year, as rookie Isack Hadjar joins him as a team-mate after two years in Formula 2.
“I've already kind of parked last year’s things [out of the way], it's been away from my head,” he said.
“The moment they officially announced it, I didn't feel super, super angry or disappointed. I was prepared inside of my head at some point.
“In the end if I go to Racing Bulls, VCARB or Red Bull, the things I have to do are the same. Both ways you can do pretty cool projects anyway.
“Maybe if I was at Red Bull, I would be team-mates with Max, which is not easy. But at the same time, it's a cool thing and you can prove yourself at a different stage.
“Even with VCARB it's different things that I've never probably experienced in a position like that, more like leadership, and I also have to develop myself more.
“So, I think I'm going to stick to what I'm doing. I understand why they chose Liam and it is what it is. There are things I can't control, and I respect that.
“I definitely still have hope this season. I just keep focused on what I have to do, I got to prove myself that I deserve [to be] in Formula 1.”
