In the high-stakes, musical-chairs reality of the Formula 1 paddock, being sidelined by a team is often the beginning of the end. But for Yuki Tsunoda, the 2026 season isn’t a retirement – it’s a recharge.
After a whirlwind 2025 that saw him promoted to the senior Red Bull seat only to fall victim to its notorious "second-seat curse," the Japanese driver is far from defeated.
Now serving as the team's reserve while Isack Hadjar partners Max Verstappen, Tsunoda is a constant, determined presence in the garage, fueled by a singular, hopeful mission: to prove he belongs on the grid.
Staying sharp in the shadows
While some drivers might look to IndyCar or to the WEC to keep their racing instincts honed, Tsunoda has intentionally chosen to stay embedded within the F1 bubble.
For him, being present at every briefing and observing every technical shift is more valuable than chasing trophies elsewhere.
“I want to still… I’m not giving up on driving in F1,” he told F1.com.
“Rather than going to other series and racing… that’s also partly good, because you’ll be sharp, but at the same time, you don’t know what’s going on in F1 very much.”
This commitment to the "here and now" of the paddock is paired with a physical transformation. Despite not having a guaranteed start on Sunday, Tsunoda has doubled down on his fitness, revealing that he is actually in the best condition of his professional career.
“I actually still prepared for the season quite a lot physically,” he added. “Now is probably the best shape I’ve been in in my life… I think physically, in terms of numbers, it’s even better than last year.”
Ready for the 'anything can happen' moemnt
The life of a reserve driver is one of professional patience, a mental tightrope walk between being a team player and waiting for a teammate's misfortune.
Red Bull management has been clear with Yuki: stay ready, because in this sport, the status quo can shatter in a single corner.
“I’m definitely happy with my shape, and I just need some laps for my muscles to get used to driving again,” Tsunoda admitted.
“It is a unique psychological challenge to train for a race that may never come, yet he remains undeterred.
“Sometimes I feel a little bit weird doing this kind of preparation and training, knowing that I’m not racing. But anything can happen."
That "anything" is exactly what the Milton Keynes outfit has prepared him for. Whether it’s a sudden illness or a strategic shift, Tsunoda is keeping his visor down and his focus sharp.
“That’s what I also got told by the team. I’ve prepared as much as possible, I’m in the best shape, and my mental [approach] is always, ‘Okay, if the team asks me to jump in, make sure I perform’, and that’s it – just being ready.”
While the current driver lineups at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls appear stable for now, Tsunoda knows that destiny in F1 often moves at 200 mph.
He isn't just waiting; he's preparing for the moment the phone rings and the world realizes that Yuki Tsunoda never actually left.
Read also: Brundle drops his sharp verdict on Verstappen retirement talk
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