Tsunoda does not give up and wants to return to Formula 1.

      In 2026, Yuki Tsunoda is not racing, as he is now a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls, and his place in the team has been taken by the promising Isaac Hajar.

      Overall, the career of the Japanese driver, who will turn 26 in a month and a half, has been quite unusual: ten years ago, he was accepted into Honda's youth program, became a champion in youth series in his country, and then, in 2019, again with the support of the Japanese automotive giant, became a Red Bull driver, spending the next two seasons in F3 and F2.

      In 2021, he made his Formula 1 debut with AlphaTauri, quickly becoming a popular figure in the paddock and racing for the Faenza team for four seasons.

      During this time, the team's name changed to Racing Bulls, Yuki had several teammates, the team principal changed, but he continued to pilot their cars with varying success. It was in this capacity that he started the previous season, but after a couple of races, he got promoted – he was finally moved to Red Bull Racing, which Yuki had long dreamed of.

      At that time, he replaced Liam Lawson, who had not lived up to the team's expectations, but Tsunoda, as it turned out later, also did not perform well against Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, he remained with the team until the end of the season but was then moved to reserve, although, of course, Yuki wants to return to racing the most.

      "Everything that happened last year starting from the Japanese Grand Prix was definitely the hardest period in my career and in life in general," Tsunoda shared in an interview with the official championship website. "At the same time, I learned a lot about myself, went through a lot. I think I have become much more mature as a person...

      Of course, after another Grand Prix, you always feel exhausted, and during the breaks between races, you usually try to recover and spend time enjoying yourself. But last year, I just felt emotionally drained and didn't understand why.

      I thought it was necessary to change this, but I needed outside help to feel happier again and figure myself out. In fact, I realized that I didn't know myself well, and I made this discovery only because of everything that happened last season..."

      There are no guarantees that Yuki Tsunoda will be able to return to the wheel of a Formula 1 car, but despite this, he continues to stay in shape to be ready if such an opportunity arises:

      "In fact, I have been preparing very actively for this season. Probably, I am in the best physical shape of my life right now, even better than last year. Sometimes it seems strange to me why I should train so intensely when I know I am not racing. But anything can happen – the team says the same.

      My mental attitude remains the same: if the team asks me to get behind the wheel, I must be ready to fight for good results. I think it’s important to show myself not only in the Red Bull camp but also in the paddock in general. I am not giving up, I am not letting go of the thought of returning to Formula 1. I want this and I am not striving to compete in other series, as it is unknown how events may unfold...

      At the same time, I realized how deeply I care about our sport and how much I want to get back behind the wheel of a racing car. However, I don’t think too much about the future, as I cannot influence it. I am more concerned about how to make the most of each day, even if I am not in the best position right now.

      I also try to think more about myself, as during the Formula 1 season, you have almost no opportunity for that. But now I have time that I can dedicate to it, to enjoy life more."