Yuki Tsunoda, who faced a demotion to a reserve role at Red Bull for the 2026 season after a tough year as Max Verstappen’s teammate, is already setting his sights on a possible Yuki Tsunoda F1 2027 move to return to the Formula 1 grid. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has acknowledged that although Tsunoda is not currently in their line-up, the possibility of pursuing him is not off the table for 2027 if the team’s performance in 2026 makes them an attractive prospect.
Tsunoda’s latest season at Red Bull saw him collect points in seven out of twenty-two races, with his best showing being a sixth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After replacing Liam Lawson for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Tsunoda’s stint at Red Bull did not secure his spot for F1 2026, as the team opted to bring in Isack Hadjar for the upcoming season. This decision came after Hadjar impressed during his debut campaign with Racing Bulls.
Interest from Haas in bringing Tsunoda on board surfaced as early as 2024, but when Red Bull exercised their option to retain him, Haas instead finalized a fresh line-up of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon for 2025, with both drivers currently on contracts running through the end of 2026.
Teams and Driver Market Dynamics Set the Stage for 2027
With Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman closely matched in the 2025 standings and contracted through 2026, Haas’s scope to alter their line-up before 2027 remains limited. Nevertheless, Komatsu is keeping future options open, emphasizing the importance of a strong 2026 campaign to remain an attractive destination for potential drivers, including Tsunoda.
Asked specifically about the appeal of working with Tsunoda in the future, Komatsu told PlanetF1.com,
“I can’t comment on his future. Obviously he’s not our driver. 2027? I think we have to focus on ’26 with our drivers and with brand-new regulations. I think most of the drivers knew that, obviously, as they wanted to see how ’26 pans out and they wanted to pick a better team for ’27. That’s why the driver market is going to be so open for ’27. So to put ourselves in a better position, our best position, the important thing is we’ve got to have a competitive ’26 season. That’s our focus.”
Bearing in mind the ongoing overhaul of Formula 1 regulations and driver contracts that often extend for multiple seasons, many drivers—including Tsunoda—are believed to be keeping an eye on opportunities that may open up heading into 2027. The 2027 season is likely to be shaped by how teams perform in the first year of new rules and car designs.
Potential Obstacles: Manufacturer Ties and Team Alliances
One potential challenge for Tsunoda’s move to Haas lies in his connection with long-time backer Honda. Haas, which had previously been a Ferrari customer, announced a technical alliance with Toyota in late 2024—Toyota’s official return to Formula 1 since its withdrawal at the end of 2009. This collaboration has deepened for 2026, as Haas rebrands as TGR [Toyota Gazoo Racing] Haas F1 Team.
Given Tsunoda’s long-standing link to Honda, he was frequently rumored to be a candidate for a seat at Aston Martin, the team forming its own partnership with Honda for 2026. However, those speculations were put to rest when Aston Martin brought in Jak Crawford to fill the third driver role following Felipe Drugovich’s move to Formula E.
Tsunoda Reflects on Disappointment and Loyalty to Red Bull
At the close of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda openly acknowledged his dissatisfaction with Red Bull’s decision to shift him to the reserve roster, explaining that contractual obligations prevented him from pursuing avenues with rival teams. He told PlanetF1.com and other media,
“I didn’t have options. My contract was there [Red Bull] so I couldn’t do much. I had a couple of interests externally, but my contract doesn’t really allow me to talk a lot with them. So that’s why I was really focused on Red Bull.”
“And anyway, it was my priority for the last few years, the Red Bull family, because this is where I grew up.”
– Yuki Tsunoda, F1 Driver
This sense of frustration and disappointment was further underlined by his admission that the situation had “p*ssed off” and disappointed him, ultimately limiting his career options at a crucial point in his progression as a Formula 1 driver.
What’s Next for Tsunoda and the 2027 Grid?
As teams strategize for the transformative 2026 season, the competitive structure and driver market for 2027 are poised to be wide open. Key figures such as Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Isack Hadjar, and Jak Crawford will shape the landscape, while manufacturers like Toyota and Honda expand their rivalry through high-profile team alliances. For Tsunoda, the focus will be on maintaining form, leveraging his standing as a Red Bull reserve, and monitoring how team dynamics shift in the wake of regulation changes.
The outcome of Haas’s cooperation with Toyota, combined with Tsunoda’s ongoing relationship with Honda and his experience under the Red Bull umbrella, will heavily influence his prospects for a Yuki Tsunoda F1 2027 move. Teams, drivers, and fans alike will keep a close watch as F1’s new era approaches, with the intense competition for coveted race seats set to define the sport’s immediate future.
