{"id":31483,"date":"2025-03-15T13:44:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T17:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=31483"},"modified":"2025-03-15T13:51:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T17:51:19","slug":"how-yuki-tsunoda-is-already-positioning-himself-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/15\/how-yuki-tsunoda-is-already-positioning-himself-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"How Yuki Tsunoda is already positioning himself for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/06\/yuki-tsunoda-on-his-own-in-securing-f1-seat-say-honda\/\" target=\"_self\">Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> wasted no time in making an impression this season. He blew all expectations for VCARB out of the water in qualifying, going 5th fastest after putting together a near perfect lap.<\/p>\n<p>With <strong>former teammate Liam Lawson eliminated in Q1 for Red Bull<\/strong>, there was another dimension to Tsunoda&#8217;s brilliant Australia qualifying result.<\/p>\n<p>However, his pace has never been in question &#8211; at least not in recent years. The 24-year-old&#8217;s focus in 2025 will be to capitalise on any openings in the market.<\/p>\n<h4>Tsunoda&#8217;s position at Red Bull is uncertain<\/h4>\n<p>For obvious reasons, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/13\/tsunoda-believes-political-reasons-cost-him-red-bull-seat\/\" target=\"_self\">Red Bull&#8217;s decision to promote Lawson was a huge blow for Tsunoda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Having performed at a high level across multiple campaigns, it seems the Japanese driver&#8217;s results have been irrelevant in the considerations of Christian Horner.<\/p>\n<p>In many ways, the Milton Keynes outfit <strong>have only used the 24-year-old as a benchmark to evaluate other candidates<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This is why Red Bull activated their option on his contract last year &#8211; preventing Tsunoda from leaving the team.<\/p>\n<p>Tsunoda was <strong>deemed to valuable to release<\/strong>, but simultaneously not seen as a serious Red Bull candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily for the VCARB driver, his contract with the team expires at the end of 2025. This means that he is no longer restricted in his driver market activities.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"0rnmNhkFSExLHkt6dRNn8A\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2205184179\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'0rnmNhkFSExLHkt6dRNn8A',sig:'7gyEwbzG1j4TWZR5S-8jeqiTKFbrEP1KCtVPoSq_tQA=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2205184179',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Other teams interested in his services<\/h4>\n<p>To some degree, it would be premature to disregard a future at Red Bull for Tsunoda.<\/p>\n<p>Although making any drastic conclusions about <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/02\/20\/lawson-it-doesnt-matter-if-red-bull-suits-my-driving-style\/\" target=\"_self\">Lawson<\/a> after his P18 finish in qualifying would be hasty, there is every chance that the Kiwi could struggle in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Since Ricciardo&#8217;s departure in 2018, <strong>Red Bull have consistently failed to select the correct driver to partner Max Verstappen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lawson&#8217;s path to Milton Keynes is actually very similar to the likes of Albon and Gasly, whose time at the team was short lived.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, this is not to say Red Bull are looking to promote Tsunoda.<\/p>\n<p>Even if Lawson struggles, Christian Horner <strong>is likely to give him plenty of time to acclimatise<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Still, if Tsunoda can continue performing at this level, it would certainly give Red Bull something to think about.<\/p>\n<p>Qualifying in Albert Park has confirmed the field is extremely tight, with the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/05\/f1-williams-could-become-threat-for-top-4-teams-say-mclaren\/\" target=\"_self\">Williams<\/a> and VCARB capable of upsetting the top teams.<\/p>\n<p>In this context, Lawson (who it cannot be forgotten has only completed 11 races), must acclimatise quickly.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"oV39eXL0TGJddbA9NSl2Og\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2204975551\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'oV39eXL0TGJddbA9NSl2Og',sig:'EDa9XSUr67ASFXi-UX5_d23yXTxLHPWmhe8ly9-5teI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2204975551',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Deciding the next steps in F1<\/h4>\n<p>Depending on <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/02\/11\/tsunoda-and-hadjar-already-under-pressure-at-rb\/\" target=\"_self\">Arvid Lindblad&#8217;s results in Formula 2<\/a>, Red Bull might be happy to keep Tsunoda at VCARB in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Not only does he score regular points for the Faenza squad, but he is an <strong>excellent reference for young talents<\/strong> &#8211; including this year&#8217;s rookie Isack Hadjar.<\/p>\n<p>However, it must be assumed that Tsunoda will explore alternatives to Red Bull if possible.<\/p>\n<p>Anything short of a 2026 seat alongside Verstappen is <strong>unlikely to convince the 24-year-old that he is seen as an asset at Milton Keynes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The good news for Tsunoda is that he is currently the most highly rated free agent in F1.<\/p>\n<p>He is now relatively experienced despite being just 24, and his speed is now impossible to refute.<\/p>\n<p>This means he offers a very complete package to any interested outfits.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"bKOgDgS6RRB9YOjpyrSyUA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2205180812\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'bKOgDgS6RRB9YOjpyrSyUA',sig:'Ib_m7npIWOTN_FQ4uWKhMG9K55i8Vxj_WxHYYTdsf7s=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2205180812',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Positioning himself for 2026<\/h4>\n<p>Unlike twelve months ago, there are very few teams with vacancies.<\/p>\n<p>With that said, since most driver contracts expiring at the end of 2026, Tsunoda <strong>just needs to ensure he secures a place on the grid next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Regardless of how competitive his next team is, staying on the grid will provide a platform for potentially better opportunities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/03\/12\/why-tsunoda-could-become-an-unlikely-option-for-cadillac\/\" target=\"_self\">One team who could consider the Japanese driver for 2026 is Cadillac<\/a>. Until now, the American team have been linked with Colton Herta, Zhou Guanyu or even Valtteri Bottas.<\/p>\n<p>However, Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has revealed that <strong>more than 6 drivers are already on his shortlist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Lowdon also outlined that any new opportunities in the market will be explored in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>Considering the other drivers available, <strong>Tsunoda is arguably the best option available to F1&#8217;s latest entrant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike last season, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/02\/14\/red-bull-will-not-abandon-2025-if-they-are-in-a-title-battle\/\" target=\"_self\">Red Bull<\/a> will not be able to restrict the 24-year-old from leaving.<\/p>\n<p>Assuming Tsunoda can continue performing at the level he has shown since 2022, his future in F1 (slightly complicated) should be secure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yuki Tsunoda wasted no time in making an impression this season. He blew all expectations for VCARB out of the water in qualifying, going 5th fastest after putting together a near perfect lap. With former teammate Liam Lawson eliminated in Q1 for Red Bull, there was another dimension to Tsunoda&#8217;s brilliant Australia qualifying result. However, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4927,"featured_media":31485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[1986,2452,2394,2246],"class_list":["post-31483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1","category-news","tag-cadillac","tag-f1-2025-season","tag-tsunoda","tag-vcarb"],"modified_by":"Jaden Diaz-Ndisang","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4927"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31483"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31488,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31483\/revisions\/31488"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}