Tsunoda: I want to stay within Red Bull in F1 2026

Yuki Tsunoda insists his first precedence is to stay part of Purple Bull’s Components 1 programme in 2026 even when no emptiness opens up at its major crew.

Tsunoda is because of enter his fifth season in F1 with the squad now working below the Racing Bulls banner, having made his debut with the crew below its AlphaTauri guise in 2021.

Nonetheless, Christian Horner warned in December that Tsunoda’s tenure on the power drinks large might be coming to an finish, as he questioned whether or not it could “make sense” to maintain him in 2026 if there was no probability of him touchdown a seat at Purple Bull.

Purple Bull’s partnership with Honda can be concluding after the 2025 season, with the Japanese producer having initially introduced its resolution to go away F1 earlier than finishing a U-turn and signing an engine provide take care of rival outfit Aston Martin.

As such, staying inside Purple Bull may imply Tsunoda will probably be parting methods with a producer that has backed his profession from its early days, though the Japanese large has prompt it’ll hold supporting him even when he is not competing with a Honda engine.

However the 24-year-old revealed that his “important goal” is to proceed his affiliation with the power drinks agency, whether or not meaning staying at Racing Bulls or being promoted to its important crew alongside world champion Max Verstappen.

“It relies upon upon my efficiency, [like] each season,” he mentioned of his future. “Clearly, I want to keep on the Purple Bull household. 

“If I am at Red Bull Racing, that is wonderful. If not, nonetheless I might nonetheless like to be a part of this crew [Racing Bulls]. I have been on this crew [for] 5 years already. I am in all probability [the] most [longest-serving] driver on this crew.

“I already really feel like I am linked to each particular person, which is for me crucial as a driver to develop myself and concentrate on what I wish to do. 

“I really feel a number of help from them, which suggests rather a lot to me. No matter occurs there’s going to be attention-grabbing choices, however clearly my important goal is to be on this crew, the Purple Bull household.”

Tsunoda was in rivalry for a Purple Bull drive for 2025 following the crew’s resolution to drop Sergio Perez on account of a scarcity of outcomes.

The Japanese driver even examined the automobile in Abu Dhabi final 12 months within the hope of gaining some of the coveted seats on the grid, just for Purple Bull to snub him in favour of Liam Lawson.

Kiwi racer Lawson had impressed Purple Bull throughout two substitute stints with AlphaTauri/RB in 2023 and ‘24 as alternative for Daniel Ricciardo, however his lack of F1 expertise in comparison with Tsunoda meant that the general public opinion was cut up over the choice.

Talking concerning the matter, Tsunoda mentioned he wasn’t “indignant or dissatisfied” when he discovered about Purple Bull’s selection and is trying ahead to main the rebranded Racing Bulls squad this 12 months, as rookie Isack Hadjar joins him as a team-mate after two years in Components 2.

“I’ve already form of parked final 12 months’s issues [out of the way], it has been away from my head,” he mentioned. 

“The second they formally introduced it, I did not really feel tremendous, tremendous indignant or dissatisfied. I used to be ready inside my head sooner or later. 

“Ultimately if I’m going to Racing Bulls, VCARB or Purple Bull, the issues I’ve to do are the identical. Each methods you are able to do fairly cool initiatives anyway. 

“Possibly if I used to be at Purple Bull, I might be team-mates with Max, which isn’t straightforward. However on the similar time, it is a cool factor and you’ll show your self at a special stage. 

“Even with VCARB it is various things that I’ve by no means in all probability skilled able like that, extra like management, and I additionally must develop myself extra. 

“So, I believe I’ll persist with what I am doing. I perceive why they selected Liam and it’s what it’s. There are issues I can not management, and I respect that. 

“I positively nonetheless have hope this season. I simply hold targeted on what I’ve to do, I acquired to show myself that I deserve [to be] in Components 1.”