Yuki Tsunoda Out at Red Bull In Stunning Move: Hadjar Set to Replace Him in 2026

Well, well, well. Here we go again with Red Bull’s favorite pastime: playing musical chairs with their second seat. At the same time, Max Verstappen watches from the sidelines, probably wondering if he should start charging admission for the entertainment. According to reports from Auto Motor Und Sport, Yuki Tsunoda is allegedly getting the boot in 2026, with Isack Hadjar supposedly lined up to take his place.

Let’s be honest here, anyone who’s followed Formula 1 for more than five minutes saw this coming from a mile away. The writing was on the wall the moment Red Bull promoted the Japanese driver from Racing Bulls earlier this season. It’s almost like they handed him a ticking time bomb disguised as a career opportunity.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: And They’re Not Pretty

When you look at the cold, hard statistics, it’s enough to make you cringe. Tsunoda has managed to accumulate a total of 12 points across 14 races, currently sitting in 19th place in the Championship standings. Meanwhile, his teammate Max Verstappen – you know, that guy who makes winning look easier than ordering takeout – has accumulated 230 points and sits comfortably in third place. It’s like comparing a bicycle to a Ferrari, except the bike occasionally breaks down and needs roadside assistance.

The Japanese driver’s best performances this season came in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where he managed ninth-place finishes. In the grand scheme of Formula 1, that’s about as exciting as watching paint dry in slow motion. His home race debut at the Japanese GP? A masterclass in disappointment, qualifying 14th and finishing 12th.

Hadjar: The Next Victim or The Chosen One?

Enter Isack Hadjar, stage left. The French driver has been turning heads at Racing Bulls, most notably with his podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s resident talent scout and part-time dream crusher, declared that “Isack is different” after Zandvoort. Of course, we’ve heard similar proclamations before – remember when every Red Bull junior was supposedly “the next big thing”? Well, if you ignore the bad debut from Hadjar.

Currently sitting in P9 with 38 points after 16 races, Hadjar’s numbers certainly look more promising than his potential predecessor’s. But here’s the thing about Red Bull’s second seat – it’s cursed. It’s like the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts, except instead of dealing with magical creatures, you’re trying to keep pace with a four-time world champion who makes the impossible look routine.

The Endless Cycle Continues

The 2026 season represents a reset button for everyone with new regulations, which Hadjar himself acknowledged. “It’s a brand new start for the team,” he said, “and there won’t be talk of the second car thing because it’s a brand new car for everyone.” Sweet summer child – the car might be new, but the expectations and pressure remain precisely the same.

Franz Tost, with his years of experience managing young talent, would probably suggest Hadjar benefits from additional seasoning at the sister team. But when has Red Bull ever been known for patience? They’re more likely to throw someone into the deep end and see if they sink or swim, usually with predictable results.

The Bottom Line

So here we are, preparing to witness another chapter in Red Bull’s ongoing driver development soap opera. Will Hadjar break the curse of the second seat, or will he become another cautionary tale in the team’s extensive collection? Only time will tell, but if history is any indication, we’ll be having this same conversation again in a couple of years, just with different names. The Japanese driver might be heading for the exit, but let’s be real – in Red Bull’s world, everyone’s just keeping the seat warm until the next shiny new prospect comes along.