P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yuki Tsunoda has missed out on a chance to race on the 2026 F1 grid after being dropped by Red Bull.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has expressed his support for Yuki Tsunoda’s potential return to the F1 grid despite being dropped for next year. The team recently announced its driver lineup for 2026, with Isack Hadjar joining alongside Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad filling the seats at the sister Racing Bulls team, leaving Tsunoda without a race seat. However, Tsunoda will continue as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull. Mekies acknowledged the difficult decision to replace Tsunoda and explained the challenging nature of Red Bull’s second seat. He remains hopeful that Tsunoda will get another opportunity in the future, citing the rapid changes and unpredictable nature of F1 driver decisions. Mekies emphasized Tsunoda’s talent and resilience, expressing confidence in his ability to bounce back from this setback.
