Tsunoda Responds After Red Bull F1 Chooses Not to Put Him in Main Team

Yuki Tsunoda has cleared why he is driving for Racing Bulls and not Red Bull in F1 Dutch GP, as he shares how a holiday in Greece was cut short.

On paper Tsunoda is a reserve driver at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls F1 teams. But when Isack Hadjar got injured and was ruled out of this weekend’s Dutch GP, the senior team replaced the Frenchman with Liam Lawson, who is to move over from the sister team.

They went for the long route of changes at both the F1 teams rather than stick with one. As such, Tsunoda got drafted in at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad. But the Japanese driver doesn’t mind really. Having lost his race seat last year, he is more than happy to race again.

Tsunoda is happy to race in F1, Red Bull or Racing Bulls doesn’t matter

He already felt home at Racing Bulls when putting the jersey back on. “I don’t know, I mean I don’t really mind which car I’m driving to be honest, I’m already grateful enough to have a seat,” said Tsunoda to media in Dutch GP. “I really didn’t mind which car I’m driving, because both teams are performing well, especially Racing Bulls this year.

“Racing Bulls, I’ve been here for a long time, and as soon as I wore this white jersey, I felt really at home. Lots of people are welcoming me, I feel relaxed and comfortable straight away, so for me that’s really good. And having already these opportunities for me, something over the roof, I was dying to have it. I’m very excited to race with Racing Bulls,” summed up Tsunoda.

Holiday of Tsunoda in Greece cut short

His return to F1 came at the cost of his holiday in Greece. When asked where he was when he was told and how it came about, Tsunoda revealed about spending time in Greece when he was suddenly called-up by his manager to return to the United Kingdom. He was alerted on Tuesday of this week.

He feels calm about the return, though. Naturally, there is a beaming smile on his face, after getting a rare opportunity to be a replacement driver. “I was with my manager, and also other friends in Greece, spending time together, and I was on the beach,” recalled Tsunoda.

“It’s not like I don’t want to make something different narrative, I was just hanging on the beach all the time, and I was still training and everything. At the moment I received a call from my manager at the beach, pretty relaxed, watching the nice beautiful ocean, and I just suddenly got a call, ‘OK, you have to go to the UK’.

“Was spending in Greece just 24 hours, and he already wanted me to go to the UK. I said, ‘OK, why?’ He said, ‘maybe you might race this week’, I said ‘OK, that’s fair’. [I heard it on] Tuesday. [But it is] nice. It was a very unexpected thing. I’m just trying to be calm.

“I’m actually quite calm and looking forward to tomorrow. I can’t be sad. It was a moment I was waiting for and I was dying to have this kind of moment. Obviously, it always really depends on the current drivers who are competing this year. I was super…it’s not frustrating or stressful, but watching from the screen every race, I was feeling like I really want to be back and driving,” summed up Tsunoda.

Tsunoda feels not much has changed steering wheel wise

He is out to have fun and feels ready for the challenge. Even though the cars are different and racing is different to what he did last time in 2025, he reckons he will be able to get through it. The only tricky aspect will be the starts, especially since he only has one practice session due to F1 sprint weekend.

The simulator can give a feel but not the entire picture. After having spent time on the Red Bull simulator, he only got a day in the Racing Bulls simulator and didn’t feel a lot changed in terms of the steering wheel, the switches. For sure, the knowledge of Red Bull car is more, but he will be fine.

“Honestly, the Racing Bulls simulator is the first time I’ve done this, like literally yesterday,” continued Tsunoda. “So in terms of car understanding, I’m sure I have more in Red Bull. But in terms of steering, switches and everything, I knew there’s not much difference from last year.

“So where to touch the switches and everything, which switch does that, it’s not much different, so I know what’s going to happen. And within that, it’s always the same offset, similar offset, what the racing rules that Red Bull have in terms of those technologies, since the last integration, and I think the offset remains kind of similar.

“So yeah, it’s not like so far I’m having a lot of information from this team, but so far I’ve not really been confused or overwhelmed. Most of the things are in the expectation, and I think it will be a pretty smooth transition between Red Bull and Racing Bulls,” summed up Tsunoda.

Lindblad waiting to spend time with Tsunoda

For Lindblad, in his rookie F1 season, he will get another experienced campaigner to drive against and somewhat prove his mettle. The Brit is looking forward to sharing the team with the Japanese driver. “I mean, Yuki, for sure it’s going to be an interesting weekend for him,” he said.

“These cars are very different and it’s going to be a Sprint weekend, not the easiest track, so for sure I’ll try to help him, where I can, to get up to speed. But I think, you know, yeah, I don’t know him super well. We haven’t really crossed paths before, but we’ve always been friendly, so it should be a nice weekend together.”

Lindblad understands logics, admits would have too risky with him

Lindblad was not too fussed about Lawson getting picked to replace Hadjar as well. He understood the logic behind it, as he admits it would have been risky with a rookie. “To be honest, it’s my first time here to Zandvoort,” he continued. “It’s a Sprint weekend. I’m only halfway through my rookie year, so I think it was, let’s say, a more logical decision to go with Liam.

“It would have been a bit more of a risk with me. Obviously, as a driver, I would have liked it. You know, I would have liked the opportunity. But at the same time, I understand completely why they did what they did. And I’m very focused now on my own weekend and trying to do as best as I can.”