With 2026 looming, Red Bull has yet to reveal who will partner Max Verstappen — and Yuki Tsunoda’s future remains uncertain. Drafted in from the third round to replace Liam Lawson, Tsunoda has struggled to score consistently, only rarely breaking into the points. A strong sixth place in Baku was his best result of the year, but is it enough to shift the narrative?
The season so far
Hard-fought weekends have too often yielded little return, leaving question marks over Tsunoda’s case for continuity at the senior team. Against the standard set alongside a four-time champion, every qualifying lap, race craft decision and strategic execution is under the microscope.
Timing matters
Red Bull has signaled it won’t wait for the chequered flag on the season to lock in its 2026 line-up. That accelerates the pressure on Tsunoda to string results together now, turning isolated highs into a consistent run of points.
What he must show
Clean weekends, fewer unforced errors and opportunistic race management are the currency of trust at this level. If Tsunoda can back up Baku with more of the same, the conversation changes. If not, Red Bull’s deep pool of options may close the window before year’s end.
