Alex Albon Affirms Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 Calibre Following Red Bull Reserve Driver Transition

Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has voiced strong support for Yuki Tsunoda, expressing belief in the Japanese driver’s talent and potential for a future return to the grid, despite the recent confirmation of his transition to a reserve role within the Red Bull organisation for 2026. The announcement, made earlier this week, stipulates that Tsunoda will conclude his racing tenure with the senior Red Bull team at the end of the 2025 season, subsequently taking on test and reserve driver responsibilities for both Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Racing Bulls. This development marks a significant shift in Red Bull’s driver lineup strategy, which will see rookie Isack Hadjar partnering reigning world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull from 2026.

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Albon, currently driving for Williams, conveyed his sympathy for Tsunoda, acknowledging the challenging nature of the situation. "Honestly, I’m away from social media, so I only found out this morning," Albon stated. "It’s hard for Yuki. I think Yuki’s an extremely talented driver. Personally, I think he deserves a place in Formula 1." Albon’s comments resonate with his own experiences within the demanding Red Bull driver programme, providing a unique perspective on the pressures and potential pathways for drivers facing similar career junctures.

Yuki Tsunoda, who made his Formula 1 debut in 2021 with then-AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls), has been a consistent presence on the grid, known for his aggressive driving style and flashes of raw speed. His journey through the Red Bull junior ranks saw him impress in Formula 2, finishing third in the 2020 championship, which paved his way to F1. Over his initial seasons, Tsunoda demonstrated significant growth, gradually reducing his penalty count and improving his race craft and consistency. His 2023 season, for instance, saw him outscore his more experienced teammate Daniel Ricciardo, and later Liam Lawson, in a challenging Racing Bulls car, often extracting the maximum performance from the package. In 2024, he continued to show strong performances, particularly in qualifying, securing several points finishes and demonstrating a notable increase in maturity.

The 2025 season, as described by Albon, proved to be a "turbulent" one for Tsunoda. He commenced the year with Racing Bulls but was subsequently promoted to the senior Red Bull team after a handful of races, indicating a period of high performance or strategic necessity. This promotion, however, was followed by a swap with Liam Lawson for the Japanese Grand Prix, suggesting a dynamic and fluid driver management approach by Red Bull. Ultimately, the decision was made to replace him with Isack Hadjar for the 2026 season, highlighting the intense competition and constant evaluation inherent in the Red Bull talent pool.

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Albon, drawing a direct parallel to his own career trajectory, offered words of encouragement. "He’s in a very similar place to where I was in 2021. There’s still opportunity," Albon remarked. Albon himself lost his Red Bull race seat at the conclusion of the 2020 season after struggling to consistently match Max Verstappen’s pace. He spent 2021 as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull, undertaking extensive simulator work and gaining valuable insight from a different perspective. This period away from full-time racing proved beneficial, as he made a successful return to the grid with Williams in 2022, where he has since flourished, establishing himself as a key leader within the team and consistently delivering strong performances, often exceeding the car’s capabilities. His experience underscores the potential for a driver to leverage a reserve role as a springboard for a future F1 comeback.

The Red Bull driver programme has a well-documented history of both nurturing immense talent and making swift, sometimes brutal, decisions regarding driver lineups. Known for its ‘sink or swim’ philosophy, the programme has seen numerous drivers pass through its ranks, with only a select few reaching the pinnacle of the sport and maintaining long-term careers within the Red Bull ecosystem. This strategy, while controversial at times, has consistently produced world-class drivers, including Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Max Verstappen. The promotion of Hadjar to the senior team and Arvid Lindblad to Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson for 2026 is consistent with Red Bull’s commitment to injecting fresh, young talent into Formula 1. Lindblad, whose junior career includes impressive stints in various feeder series, will be the sole rookie on the grid for the upcoming season, further emphasizing Red Bull’s developmental focus.

Albon questioned the future dynamic and its implications for Tsunoda’s potential return, stating, "How does Arvid perform and how does Liam perform in that area? Is there an opportunity for him to come back? I think that’s why they have put him where they’ve put him." This suggests that Red Bull’s decision to retain Tsunoda as a reserve driver might be a calculated move, keeping him within the family should future opportunities arise or if the new recruits do not meet expectations. The role of a test and reserve driver is crucial; it involves extensive simulator work, which is vital for car development, providing feedback to engineers, and being ready to step into a race seat at a moment’s notice. A strong performance in this capacity could keep Tsunoda’s name firmly in contention for future vacancies, both within Red Bull’s sphere and with other teams on the grid.

Albon also acknowledged a personal connection to Tsunoda’s situation, stating, "I guess I’m biased. I’m very biased towards the fellow Asians in the paddock. He’s got the talent, and I hope to see him back in Formula 1." This sentiment highlights a shared identity and mutual respect among drivers from underrepresented regions in motorsport.

While the immediate future sees Yuki Tsunoda stepping back from a full-time F1 race seat, his transition to a reserve role within Red Bull provides a pathway for continued involvement at the highest level of motorsport. With the precedent set by drivers like Albon himself, who successfully navigated a similar period to return stronger, Tsunoda’s journey is far from over. The coming seasons will reveal whether his "extremely talented" driving, as affirmed by Alex Albon, will indeed see him reclaim a coveted spot on the Formula 1 grid.

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Jonas Leo

Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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