Hiroki Tsunoda has expressed that the crash he experienced at Imola remains his sole regret during his tenure with Red Bull. His future in Formula 1 is uncertain as Red Bull prepares to make a significant decision after the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, confirmed by team principal Laurent Mequise. It is anticipated that Tsunoda might lose his seat to Isak Hajar, who enjoyed a strong rookie season and secured his first F1 podium at Zandvoort.
Red Bull still has two seats available in the Racing Bulls lineup through 2026. Liam Lawson has demonstrated notable improvement recently and is considered a strong contender. Meanwhile, Arvid Lindblad, who has shown impressive speed in FP1 sessions and Formula 2 races this year, could debut in F1 next season. These developments suggest Tsunoda’s chances of racing in 2026 are dwindling.
Japanese drivers face limited alternatives since Cadillac has existing contracts with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, Alpine signed Franco Colapinto after Flavio Briatore continued backing the French team’s junior program. Tsunoda may have to settle for a reserve driver role at Aston Martin or Haas, both of which have ties to Honda and Toyota, respectively.
Reflecting on his time with Red Bull, Tsunoda compared his challenges to those of Liam Lawson, admitting that the Imola crash was a major setback. Despite showing great speed when given comparable equipment, Tsunoda said, “No, I have no regrets, but maybe I can only say about the Imola accident. I think that probably set me back quite a bit… I’m happy with my decision to Red Bull… it made me stronger. But the only thing I feel is, okay, I didn’t make it. The big mistake this year was the Imola crash.”
Fan Take: This decision highlights the intense competition within Red Bull’s driver lineup and the fierce pressure to perform in F1. Tsunoda’s potential exit and the rise of new talent like Hajar and Lindblad could signal a fresh era for the team’s future, keeping fans eager for what’s next in the sport.
