Tsunoda faces pressure as Red Bull considers a replacement for '26.

      "I have a challenging task in front of me."

      With Max Verstappen appearing more likely to stay at Red Bull for the 2026 season, focus is shifting to who will be his teammate and whether Yuki Tsunoda has a realistic chance of retaining his seat. Tsunoda, 25, has faced difficulties throughout 2025 and is once again behind Verstappen in both results and development priority. While the Japanese driver claims to be making progress, Red Bull's upgrade at Spa, which includes a new front wing, is only being supplied to Verstappen's car.

      "I was informed yesterday that these new features will not be utilized by me," Tsunoda confirmed. "I have a challenging task ahead of me, considering the tightness of the results. In this scenario, every minor detail matters, but I will strive to give my best effort."

      Tsunoda's contract ends at the conclusion of the season, and he will also lose Honda’s support as the Japanese company shifts to Aston Martin in 2026, a team that currently has no vacant seats. While he has been associated with the upcoming Cadillac project, he admitted at Spa that his preference is to remain where he is.

      "Things are going well, and I’m feeling increasingly comfortable with every race," Tsunoda stated. "Although the results may not reflect it, if we analyze the data, the gap I had with Max in Q2 at Silverstone is quite similar when accounting for the differences in the two packages."

      He also attributed his inability to reach Q3 in Britain to a power unit problem: "I lost just over a tenth, which cost me a spot in Q3. Without that issue, I would have been about three tenths behind Max - indicating the package difference."

      Despite not receiving the new components, Tsunoda asserts that he still has backing within the team, particularly from Dr. Helmut Marko. "Helmut is direct. If I don’t perform well, he tells me right away. But that kind of pressure motivates me," he said. "He has operated this way since I was a junior, and I genuinely value the support."

      New team principal Laurent Mekies, who has worked closely with Tsunoda at Alpha Tauri-Racing Bulls and now leads Red Bull, offered cautious encouragement. "Yuki is a fast driver," Mekies noted. "The circumstances have been tough. However, the team strongly supports him in trying to unlock his potential. Yes, I’m optimistic that he will showcase his true value shortly."

      Nonetheless, the internal dynamics seem to favor Red Bull junior and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who has made a strong impression since his debut this year. Hadjar, who will no longer have Mekies as his direct team boss, suggested that the change might be beneficial for him: "I won’t lie, it could be advantageous. But we’ll see; there are still 12 races remaining. I have to continue pushing."

      "You’re only as valuable as your last race," he added.

      Former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, now the lead driver for Alpine, has also been linked to a return, but the Frenchman clarified that he is not currently in discussions. "My contract is with Alpine, and my aim is to achieve success with this team," Gasly stated. "This is the project I am committed to."

      He commented on Horner’s dismissal but refrained from implying it altered anything for him: "Christian’s dismissal may appear sudden, but they are accustomed to it - I speak from experience."

      For Tsunoda, Horner’s exit introduces further uncertainty. When asked at Spa if the change might influence his position, he responded diplomatically. "I appreciate the support Christian has given me in previous races,” Tsunoda said. “I received a message from him yesterday saying, ‘Give it your all.’ It was nice to hear that."

      He mentioned that Helmut Marko informed him of the news. "That’s all I can say about it," Tsunoda concluded.