Yuki Tsunoda walked into the Qatar paddock with his usual smile, but it did not take long before the questions came flying. Reporters only wanted answers about his F1 future, and Tsunoda dropped a hint so vague and yet so evident that the entire F1 community is now reading between the lines.
The 25-year-old Japanese driver has never been one to hide his emotions, and many believe the uncertainty surrounding his future has finally reached its final chapter.
A Big Career Crossroads for Yuki Tsunoda
Tsunoda is currently in his fifth season in F1, having arrived in 2021 as one of Honda’s brightest young talents, and has grown into a far more complete driver than the raw rookie with the fiery radio messages. Through AlphaTauri and Racing Bulls, his journey had been tightly connected to Red Bull due to Honda’s support.
For years, that Honda partnership virtually guaranteed him a seat on the grid as the manufacturer paid millions annually to secure his position inside Red Bull’s driver pathway. However, everything seems to have shifted now, as Honda is moving to Aston Martin in 2026, and suddenly, Tsunoda’s future is not being protected by the same safety net.
Red Bull has only one seat confirmed for 2026, which obviously belongs to Max Verstappen, and the other three seats across the two teams are believed to be divided among Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Tsunoda. On performance alone, it has become clear that Lawson is first in line for a Racing Bulls seat, while Hadjar is widely expected to get the promotion and drive alongside Verstappen.
A Mysterious Hint From Tsunoda Sparks Speculation
After the Las Vegas and Mexico races, Red Bull delayed the announcement of its driver lineups to avoid distractions during Verstappen’s title push, but ahead of Qatar, Tsunoda seemed to already know the answer about his future.
“I know something that I can’t share obviously, with you guys,” he told reporters. “But probably most people know it. So actually I have a similar understanding with you guys. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Instead of sounding frustrated, his tone suggested acceptance, and hence, fans immediately started speculating. Some believe Tsunoda has already been told that he will not remain in the Red Bull family. In contrast, others think he might still secure the Racing Bulls seat if he performs strongly in the final races and supports Verstappen’s championship fight.
There is also the possibility of Honda bringing him into IndyCar, and the timing would be perfect, as a vacancy exists, and Tsunoda has already said he will not accept an F1 reserve role if he loses his full-time seat.
With the Qatar Grand Prix hosting a sprint weekend and only Abu Dhabi remaining after, Tsunoda knows he has one last chance to influence the outcome and has made it clear that helping Verstappen is the priority, which would ultimately take care of his future.
Team boss Laurent Mekies has promised both Red Bull and Racing Bulls will reveal their full 2026 lineups immediately after the Qatar weekend, and the wait is almost over.
Whichever way the decision goes, Tsunoda’s growth and maturity have earned him supporters across the paddock, and the next chapter of his career now rests on a decision already made behind closed doors.