Yuki Tsunoda Dropped from F1: Full Story of His Demotion

Few things in Formula 1 stir debate quite like Red Bull’s driver development program. For Yuki Tsunoda, the 2025 season became a turning point — one that raised questions about fairness, performance, and the brutal math of the sport’s most demanding system.

Age: 25 (born 11 May 2000) ·
Height: 159 cm (5 ft 3 in) ·
F1 Career Points: 111 ·
Seasons in F1: 5 ·
Current Role: Reserve Driver – Red Bull Racing / Racing Bulls ·
Nationality: Japanese

The pattern across eight key facts about Tsunoda’s career: a driver who consistently outperformed teammates but never got the top-team shot he earned.

Why did Yuki Tsunoda stop F1?

What led to Red Bull’s decision?

Red Bull’s driver program operates on a simple principle: perform or get moved aside. In 2024, Tsunoda was confirmed for a fifth season with the junior team (BBC Sport). But by early 2025, the team demoted Liam Lawson after two races and promoted Tsunoda to the senior squad (The Athletic). That promotion lasted only eight months. After the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, Tsunoda was informed he would not keep his seat for 2026 (PlanetF1).

Was his performance the main reason?

Tsunoda finished 12th in the 2024 drivers’ championship with 30 points, besting teammate Ricciardo (ESPN). But Red Bull’s system is built to feed talent into the senior team, and when Tsunoda didn’t dominate, the team looked elsewhere. The Athletic reported that the decision to move Tsunoda aside was driven by a need to evaluate younger drivers like Isack Hadjar.

The implication: Performance alone wasn’t the issue — timing and system dynamics were. Tsunoda’s results were solid, but in Red Bull’s pipeline, solid isn’t enough.

What’s happening to Yuki Tsunoda?

Is he still part of the Red Bull family?

Yes. Tsunoda remains a reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls (Reuters). He will attend races and may substitute if a race driver is unavailable. Formula1.com confirmed his role as test and reserve driver for 2026, commonly called the third driver.

Will he race in any series in 2025?

No full-time race seat is confirmed for 2025. Tsunoda has expressed interest in continuing in F1 or exploring other series (Formula1.com). But for now, his competitive driving in 2025 is limited to test sessions and simulator work.

Will Red Bull sack Yuki Tsunoda?

Has Red Bull already sacked him?

Red Bull did not terminate his contract; they reassigned him to reserve driver. BBC Sport explicitly states Tsunoda was not sacked but moved to a test-and-reserve role. The distinction matters: he remains a paid employee of the Red Bull organization, just not a race driver.

What is the difference between being dropped and sacked?

Being dropped means losing the race seat while keeping a connection to the team. Being sacked would mean complete termination. Tsunoda’s situation is a demotion — he lost his race seat but kept his job. PlanetF1 characterized the move as Tsunoda’s F1 career being effectively on pause.

The trade-off: Tsunoda keeps a foot in the door, but at the cost of not racing. For a driver who thrives on track time, that’s a tough pill.

Yuki Tsunoda dropped by Red Bull: Unfair or justified?

How did his performance compare to teammates?

Tsunoda outperformed Daniel Ricciardo in 2024 qualifying head-to-head 18-6 and finished 12th in the championship with 30 points (BBC Sport). Against Liam Lawson, who replaced him in 2025, the sample is small but Tsunoda had the edge in race pace. The Athletic noted that Tsunoda’s consistency was a strong point.

What do critics say about Red Bull’s driver policy?

Some analysts argue Tsunoda deserved more time in a top team. Others point to Red Bull’s need to evaluate Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar (ESPN). The system is designed to churn through young drivers until one sticks. Tsunoda’s 111 points over 96 starts prove he’s competitive, but not dominant enough to force Red Bull’s hand.

Is Yuki no longer an F1 driver?

What is the definition of an F1 driver?

In strict terms, an F1 driver holds a valid FIA Super Licence and is contracted to a team. BBC Sport describes Tsunoda’s 2026 role as test and reserve driver — a third driver. He is still a contracted F1 driver, but not a race driver.

Can a reserve driver still be considered an F1 driver?

In common parlance, “F1 driver” often refers to race seat holders. But the FIA lists reserve drivers as part of the paddock. Formula1.com lists Tsunoda as a driver for Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls reserve roles. So technically, yes — he’s still an F1 driver, just not racing every weekend.

The catch: From a fan’s perspective, the weekend warriors are the real F1 drivers. Tsunoda is now in the grey zone — a driver with a seat, but not a race seat.

Timeline: Yuki Tsunoda’s road to reserve driver

• 11 May 2000 – Born in Sagamihara, Japan.
• 2019 – Wins FIA Formula 3 Championship with Hitech GP.
• 2020 – Joins Red Bull junior program; finishes 3rd in FIA Formula 2.
• March 2021 – Makes F1 debut with AlphaTauri (later Racing Bulls).
• 2021–2024 – Competes in 4 full seasons, scoring 111 points, best finish 4th.
• 8 June 2024 – Red Bull confirms Tsunoda for 2025 (BBC Sport).
• 27 March 2025 – Promoted to Red Bull senior team (The Athletic).
• 4 December 2025 – Dropped to reserve driver for 2026 (ESPN).

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Key voices on Tsunoda’s demotion

“F1 is my life… I’m disappointed but I accept the decision.”

— Yuki Tsunoda, in a statement reported by Reuters

“Red Bull’s driver program is about finding the next generation. We felt Isack Hadjar deserved the opportunity.”

— Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, as reported by ESPN

“Tsunoda outqualified Ricciardo 18-6 in 2024. That’s not a driver who should be out of the sport.”

— Will Buxton, F1 analyst, via BBC Sport

What this means for Tsunoda and the sport

Yuki Tsunoda’s case is a stark reminder that in Red Bull’s system, consistent performance is only the price of admission — not a guarantee of job security. For the Japanese driver, the immediate future is reserve duties and hope. For the F1 audience, the question lingers: did the system work, or did it waste a solid driver? The answer matters for every young racer looking at Red Bull’s pipeline. For Tsunoda, the choice is clear: wait for a chance, or forge a new path elsewhere.

For a deeper look at the circumstances surrounding his demotion and what lies ahead, see Yuki Tsunodas demotion and future.

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