Despite three appearances as a Racing Bulls reserve driver, Yuki Tsunoda appears increasingly unlikely to return to a full-time Formula 1 seat in 2027. The Japanese driver is now reportedly preparing for a potential move to the United States, with an IndyCar test scheduled for later this month.
Tsunoda’s unexpected outings in Zandvoort, Madrid and Baku recently offered a renewed glimpse of hope that he could still secure a place on the Formula 1 grid. However, his prospects of returning as a regular driver have diminished in the weeks since, leaving the 26-year-old looking at alternatives beyond the championship.
According to Racer, Tsunoda is scheduled to test for Meyer Shank Racing at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama at the end of October. The test could provide an important first step towards a new chapter in American motorsport.
Honda connection could open the door to IndyCar
Meyer Shank Racing’s links with Honda make the proposed test particularly significant for Tsunoda. The team competes in IndyCar using Honda engines, while the Japanese manufacturer has been a long-standing partner and supporter of the driver throughout his Formula 1 career.
That existing relationship could help Tsunoda explore opportunities in the United States as he considers his next move. Although a test would not guarantee a race seat, it would allow both the driver and team to assess whether a potential partnership makes sense.
IndyCar could offer Tsunoda a fresh competitive challenge after several years within the Red Bull system. It would also give him an opportunity to continue racing at a high level rather than remain on the sidelines as a reserve driver.
Tsunoda’s Formula 1 prospects continue to fade
Tsunoda lost his full-time Formula 1 seat at the end of the 2025 season after five years on the grid. He spent four seasons with Red Bull’s sister team before being promoted to the senior outfit for the 2025 campaign.
His time at Red Bull proved short-lived, and he returned to a reserve role for 2026. His recent appearances for Racing Bulls offered some competitive opportunities, but they have not significantly improved his chances of securing a permanent seat.
Racing Bulls have yet to formally confirm their complete driver line-up for 2027. However, the expectation is that the team will continue with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, leaving Tsunoda facing another season without a regular race seat if those plans are confirmed.
That uncertainty makes the reported IndyCar test particularly important. Rather than waiting indefinitely for another opportunity in Formula 1, Tsunoda appears to be exploring a route that could allow him to return to full-time competition elsewhere.
Could IndyCar be Tsunoda’s next career move?
A move to IndyCar would represent a significant change for Tsunoda, who has spent his entire professional career in the European single-seater ladder and Formula 1. The American championship offers a different racing environment, with a mixture of permanent road courses, street circuits and oval tracks.
Honda’s involvement could prove influential in helping him make the transition, given the manufacturer’s established relationship with both Tsunoda and Meyer Shank Racing.
For now, the reported test remains an exploratory step rather than confirmation of a deal. Nevertheless, with his Formula 1 future looking increasingly uncertain, Tsunoda’s planned outing in Alabama could mark the beginning of a new direction in his racing career. Could IndyCar be the right move for Tsunoda?
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He was never a strong contender for a full-time return anywhere & the substitute drives didn’t offer any true hope in the end, particularly as his performances were predominantly the same as before in the same team from 2021 until early-2025, so nothing new from him.
Additionally, even if a change were to happen at Vcarb, it’d be for Tsolov rather than him.
IndyCar is certainly an option with more than one Honda-Powered team there & I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually ended up in Super Formula to finish his active career in Japan.