In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, decisions can make or break careers—and Yuki Tsunoda’s recent demotion is a prime example. But here’s where it gets controversial: Laurent Mekies, the Red Bull Team Principal, has openly described the move as ‘very difficult,’ while firmly backing the Japanese driver’s potential for a future race seat return. So, what’s the full story behind this bold call? Let’s dive in.
As Yuki Tsunoda transitions to a test and reserve driver role for Red Bull in 2026, Mekies has made it clear: this isn’t the end of the road. The Frenchman, who previously worked closely with Tsunoda during his tenure as Team Principal of Racing Bulls, believes the 25-year-old still has what it takes to reclaim a full-time spot on the grid. But how did we get here? And this is the part most people miss: Tsunoda’s journey has been anything but straightforward.
Following Sergio Perez’s departure at the end of 2024, Liam Lawson was promoted to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull. However, after a rocky start, Lawson and Tsunoda swapped seats, with the latter returning to Racing Bulls. Tsunoda’s 2025 campaign proved challenging, culminating in a 17th-place finish in the Drivers’ Championship—his best result being a P6 in Azerbaijan. Fast forward to the Abu Dhabi finale, and it was confirmed: Isack Hadjar would replace Tsunoda on the race team in 2026, relegating him to a test and reserve role.
Mekies didn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of this decision. ‘It has been a very difficult decision to take,’ he admitted. ‘The second seat at Oracle Red Bull Racing is no walk in the park. Our car is demanding, and we’ve done everything possible to support Yuki. But at some point, we had to make a call based on what we saw for the future.’ Here’s the bold part: Mekies isn’t writing Tsunoda off. ‘I hope—and I think—Yuki will get another chance,’ he stated. ‘He’ll be our reserve driver next year, and I’m confident he has the talent to bounce back.’
But why the optimism? Mekies points to Tsunoda’s resilience and past performance. ‘You never know what’s going to happen,’ he reflected. ‘We’ve made swift driver decisions before. I remember at the end of 2024, Yuki was driving exceptionally well. It was tough for him when Liam got the promotion. He went into the winter unsure of his future, but he came back determined. Just three races later, he was back in the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.’
Now, here’s the thought-provoking question: Is Mekies’ faith in Tsunoda justified, or is this demotion a sign of deeper challenges? Setbacks are part of any racer’s journey, but can Tsunoda truly turn this into a comeback story? Let’s spark the debate—share your thoughts in the comments below. After all, in F1, the only constant is unpredictability, and Tsunoda’s story is far from over.
