Yuki Tsunoda has hinted that he already is aware of the place his Method 1 future lies after what has been the worst marketing campaign of his five-season profession.
The 25-year-old has struggled since becoming a member of Pink Bull from sister outfit Racing Bulls for spherical three of the 2025 marketing campaign, as Tsunoda is seventeenth within the championship with solely six factors finishes.
That’s in comparison with team-mate Max Verstappen who’s in rivalry for the title forward of the ultimate two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, having been extra in-tune with the troublesome RB21 than Tsunoda.
The Japanese racer has even been constantly crushed by Racing Bulls duo Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, that means Tsunoda is just not but signed for subsequent yr.
Pink Bull beforehand introduced that it’s going to affirm the driving force pairings throughout each groups on the finish of the season, however it’s an open secret which route it would go.
Hadjar is predicted to grow to be Verstappen’s team-mate after a powerful rookie yr that included a Zandvoort podium, whereas F2’s Arvid Lindblad might accomplice Lawson at Racing Bulls.
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Staff, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Staff
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
It leaves Tsunoda with out a drive given the opposite 9 groups have already confirmed their 2026 pairings and, forward of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, he appeared to verify that prediction.
“I do know one thing that I can’t share, however most individuals understand it – I’m in the same understanding with you guys,” Tsunoda advised Viaplay, although he shortly added “I don’t know what’s going to occur, so let’s see.”
Tsunoda was then requested if he has a “Plan B” in case he’s out of F1 subsequent yr, to which he replied: “No, probably not. I’m solely excited about this race. It’s not made but, it’s nonetheless in my arms and I am going to simply attempt to assist Max as a lot as doable and if I’m capable of obtain, that’ll naturally be optimistic for my future so I’ll simply intention for that.”
Though Pink Bull stated the announcement will come post-Abu Dhabi, Hadjar seemingly hinted in Qatar that it’s going to come beforehand, saying “apparently it’s now determined one spherical earlier than the tip of the season”.
He did so with the type of swagger of anyone who is aware of that they’re set for a transfer into one in all F1’s high groups, making it comprehensible that he’s relaxed concerning the ultimate rounds.
“Completely not,” stated the 21-year-old, when requested if his performances in Qatar and Abu Dhabi might have any bearing on his future.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Staff
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
“You do not resolve based mostly on whether or not it is 22 or 23 races – you’re taking the common. That is how you’re taking a choice. So, I can have the worst weekend in historical past. Now, it is not going to vary something.”
Hadjar, who’s ninth within the championship, even sees subsequent yr as the right time to make the transfer given 2026 will introduce new laws. This implies each driver, no matter who their crew is, should adapt and the Frenchman thinks that may be a energy of his.
“It is good, good, as a result of I hold altering vehicles yearly,” he stated. “In my life, I by no means repeated a season with the identical automotive – it by no means occurred to me.
“I do not know what it is prefer to have two seasons, even after I did two years of F2, there was a change within the laws. It was a model new automotive. Identical in F4. So, I do not know what it is like.”
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