The events that unfold once the chequered flag drops on the final race of the season are often just as dramatic as the on-track battles. While the teams are packing away their garages and freight, the real game of futures, contracts and promotions begins to play out in the corridors of the paddock. This is particularly true for Yuki Tsunoda, whose place at Red Bull Racing is one of the most hotly debated topics of the 2025 season.
According to Sky Sports’ veteran analyst Ted Kravitz, Tsunoda’s fate may already be sealed, regardless of how he performs in the final races of the year. Speaking on The F1 Show podcast, Kravitz suggested that Red Bull’s decision for 2026 has already been made, with Tsunoda unlikely to keep his place alongside Max Verstappen. Instead, the team appears poised to promote French junior Isack Hadjar to the senior team.
Insiders suggest that the decision has already been made
Kravitz seems to be voicing the paddock chatter over the weekend, and was unequivocal in his assessment, noting that ‘the die has been cast’.
From what he understands, the team has already chosen Hadjar to be Verstappen’s future teammate, which would be the next significant step in Red Bull’s junior programme.
However, this does not necessarily spell the end of Tsunoda’s time within the Red Bull family. Kravitz pointed out that Red Bull management, led by Laurent Mekies on the Racing Bulls side, are still considering whether Tsunoda can re-establish himself as a consistent points scorer. If he can do so, the Japanese driver could be moved into a different role within the wider Red Bull structure, potentially alongside Liam Lawson in the so-called B team.
Tsunoda performance in Baku offers a glimmer of hope
If there was a single weekend that could help Tsunoda’s cause, it was his strong performance in Baku earlier this year.
There, he delivered his most convincing performance since his promotion to the A team, qualifying in sixth position and finishing in the same place. This earned him more points in one event than he had achieved in all his previous races combined, providing a much-needed confidence boost and improving his position in the standings.
This demonstrated that Tsunoda can still extract pace from the car when conditions are right, and showed the team that he has the determination to succeed under pressure. However, the question now is whether Baku was an isolated success or a sign that Tsunoda has genuinely turned a corner.
Killing the Porsche Partnership Lit the Fuse on Horner’s F1 Demise
Singapore is expected to be the real test
For Kravitz, the next decisive marker is the Singapore Grand Prix. The challenging night race, with its demanding long-run tyre management, is expected to provide the clearest indication yet of whether Tsunoda has overcome the persistent weaknesses that have undermined his season.
“Singapore will show whether Yuki has truly overcome his tyre problems in the long runs,” Kravitz observed, suggesting that the street circuit will be a real challenge for the driver in terms of adaptability and racecraft.
McLaren ready to crown Piastri as No.1?
A potential reshuffle within the Red Bull camp
Looking further ahead, Kravitz speculated on what the 2026 Red Bull line-up could look like.
He predicts that Verstappen [obviously] will remain the team’s anchor, paired with Hadjar as the new rising star. Meanwhile, Tsunoda might find himself returning to the Racing Bulls, where his experience within that team would be best paired with Lawson to form a reliable, albeit less glamorous, partnership.
Red Bull have frequently rotated their drivers between the A and B teams depending on form, potential, and the organisation’s long-term development needs, so such a reshuffle would not be unprecedented. For Tsunoda, this may represent both a demotion and an opportunity: remaining in the programme keeps him connected to the Formula One grid, rather than being cast adrift entirely.
Pressure is mounting as the season draws to a close
As the final seven races of 2025 approach, the Japanese driver faces a unique and challenging situation. On the one hand, he knows that the ultimate decision about his place in the senior team may already have been made. On the other hand, however, every race weekend still represents an audition for his future in the sport, whether within Red Bull or potentially elsewhere.
The internal politics at Red Bull are as fierce as any on-track battle. The team has never shied away from making bold decisions about its drivers, often favouring youth and potential over loyalty or consistency. Therefore, Tsunoda’s fate may depend less on the points he scores in the coming weeks and more on whether the organisation believes he can offer the same spark as a junior driver like Hadjar.
Spanish media report Vasseur open to Sainz Ferrari return
It’s a familiar Red Bull story unfolding again
This situation echoes earlier Red Bull transitions: from Daniil Kvyat’s sudden displacement by Max Verstappen in 2016 and Pierre Gasly’s mid-season switch in 2019 to Alexander Albon’s struggles before he was replaced by Sergio Pérez. Each example demonstrates that, once Red Bull’s leadership has decided on a direction, the affected driver often finds themselves fighting a losing battle.
For Tsunoda, this could mean accepting that his opportunity with the top team has passed, while establishing a presence within the wider Red Bull group.
With both experience and consistency likely to be needed by the Racing Bulls, the Japanese driver could yet prove invaluable in guiding the team while younger talents such as Arvid Lindblad develop further in the background.
What comes next for Tsunoda?
As the season approaches its climax, the spotlight will remain firmly fixed on him. His spirited performance in Baku showed that he can perform well under pressure, but in Formula One, the narrative can change quickly. Singapore may reveal whether his story with Red Bull’s A-team has reached its final chapter or if there is another twist to come before the curtain falls in 2025.
For now, one thing seems clear: Red Bull’s talent promotion machine continues to turn relentlessly, and Tsunoda’s place within it is looking increasingly precarious. Whether he can adapt, survive, and perhaps even thrive in a different role remains to be seen, but the next few weeks could determine the future direction of his career.
MORE F1 NEWS – F1 2025 final races: Who has the pace advantage?
With seven races and three sprint events remaining, the 2025 Formula One season enters its decisive stretch. After a year characterised by McLaren’s resurgence, Red Bull’s resilience and glimpses of strength from Mercedes and Ferrari, the competitors gather in Singapore for the first of the remaining contests. Not only is the drivers’ crown at stake, but also the answer to the question that has dogged this campaign since March: who really has the fastest car?
For much of the season, McLaren have set the pace. Their MCL39 has been the most consistent performer across a variety of tracks, though it has its limitations. Meanwhile, Red Bull suffered spells of inconsistency, but countered with decisive upgrades that have kept Max Verstappen in contention.
Mercedes and Ferrari have also enjoyed success, but neither has managed to perform consistently. The order has shifted again since the summer break, and as the championship draws to a close, each circuit presents a new test of the teams’ strengths and weaknesses….. READ MORE
The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Why is ANYONE taking notice of ANYTHING TK has to say? He knows no more than anyone else – and ANYBODY could repeat paddock gossip. I can’t believe anyone would give HIM any ‘inside information’ they might not yet want published