Yuki Tsunoda’s future in Formula 1 has come under scrutiny as he continues to struggle with performance in the current season. Despite a promising start, Tsunoda has only managed to score seven points over ten races for Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls. He has failed to score in the last five races and has experienced multiple Q1 exits, raising concerns about whether he will retain his seat until the end of the season. With his contract set to expire, the pressure is mounting on the Japanese driver to prove his worth.
However, there appears to be a lifeline for Tsunoda, with fans showing a degree of confidence in his continued presence on the grid. In a recent poll conducted by RacingNews365, nearly 47% of fans believe that the arrival of new team principal Laurent Mekies could positively influence Tsunoda’s chances of finishing the season with Red Bull. An additional 29.4% of respondents even see him staying on into 2026, when new power unit regulations are set to take effect.
Despite Tsunoda’s underwhelming recent form, his competitors within the Red Bull program have been making strong impressions. Isack Hadjar has been delivering consistently solid results, and Liam Lawson has shown marked improvement in recent races. This performance disparity has led to speculation that either Hadjar or Lawson could replace Tsunoda if his struggles continue, although Hadjar is seen as the more likely candidate among fans.
Interestingly, the poll results indicate that only 14.3% of fans think Tsunoda will be replaced by Hadjar this season, while just 3.2% expect Lawson to take his place. Around 6.2% of respondents remain uncertain about what Red Bull’s final decision will be. This suggests that while there is awareness of the competition for Tsunoda’s seat, most fans are not yet convinced a change will happen before the season concludes.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Tsunoda to see if he can bounce back and solidify his position. The arrival of Laurent Mekies may indeed provide the stability and support Tsunoda needs, but with strong contenders waiting in the wings and his contract ending soon, his performance in the remaining races will be crucial. For now, fan sentiment leans in his favor, but the pressure is undoubtedly on.
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