Yuki Tsunoda gets another setback in his F1 comeback attempt

Yuki Tsunoda is expected to be a name of interest when the 2027 Formula 1 driver market takes shape. Tsunoda is looking to work his way back into a race seat after losing his spot at Red Bull at the end of last season.

Even though a tough run alongside Max Verstappen hurt his reputation, he still brings plenty of experience. The Japanese driver has more than 100 race starts under his belt and has picked up 124 points during that time.

Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and more recently Liam Lawson have all shown that drivers shouldn’t be judged solely on their time at Red Bull. Tsunoda, meanwhile, was mostly reliable throughout four full seasons with AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls.

At just 25 years old, Tsunoda is expected to serve as Red Bull’s reserve driver this year. If there’s another mid-season shuffle at Milton Keynes, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back in action.

Tsunoda Not Expected to Get Honda Backing for Aston Martin Role

In theory, a move to Aston Martin made the most sense for Tsunoda’s path back into F1. He remains under contract with Honda, who recently started supplying engines to the team.

Honda’s previous agreement with Red Bull played a part in keeping Tsunoda on the grid until Red Bull shifted towards producing their own power units. But Honda president Koji Watanabe has made it clear there isn’t a similar arrangement in place with Aston Martin.

And even if such an arrangement does materialise down the line, Honda appears more interested in bringing up new talent from Formula 2 rather than pushing for another chance for someone already established like Tsunoda.

“There are no such plans as yet,” Watanabe told Motorsport.com. “I expect we will continue to coordinate various programmes with Aston Martin, but at this point there is nothing we have agreed upon that says, ‘Let’s do this right now.’

“Therefore, at this point, we will continue to nurture drivers up to F2 within the HFDP, Honda’s own programme, and if any drivers emerge who are capable of driving in F1, we will recommend them to Aston Martin.”

Aston Martin aren’t expected to hit their stride until 2027 when Adrian Newey’s full vision comes together. By then though, Lawrence Stroll is expected to be pursuing bigger names on the grid instead.

Tsunoda shifts focus to Alpine and Haas after Aston Martin opportunity fades

Aston Martin had been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Tsunoda, with a reserve role in 2026 possibly leading to an eventual seat alongside Fernando Alonso. But Jak Crawford has filled that position.

Red Bull engineer Richard Wood believes Tsunoda has the talent to compete in F1, suggesting that circumstances played a big role in his struggles last season.

On the other hand, Juan Pablo Montoya thinks the sport has already moved on from Tsunoda, even though his final Red Bull race was only weeks ago.

With Aston Martin no longer an option, Tsunoda is now said to be looking at Alpine and Haas as possible routes back onto the grid. Alpine, powered by a highly-rated Mercedes engine, could quietly become more competitive over time.