Yuki Tsunoda has been dropped from Red Bull's 2026 Formula 1 driver lineup, replaced by Isack Hadjar.
What happened?
Red Bull announced the change on Tuesday, completing the initial 22-driver grid for the upcoming season.
Why it matters for Yuki Tsunoda
Tsunoda's demotion to a test and reserve role comes after a disappointing season, scoring points in just seven grands prix since his promotion to the senior seat.
He finished 15th in the championship, a mark that would be the second-worst of his five-year career.
What comes next?
Isack Hadjar, the 2024 Formula 2 runner-up, joins the senior team after a strong rookie season at the junior Visa Cash App Red Bull program.
He currently sits tenth in the championship, helped along significantly by a podium finish at Zandvoort earlier this Summer.
Max Verstappen will continue as the team's lead driver at Red Bull Racing, where new Ford-supported Red Bull Powertrains engines could prove to be a major game changer in either direction next year.
The four kick off their campaigns at the Australian Grand Prix in February of next year.
Tsunoda had been at the brand's junior team from 2021 to this year's Chinese grand prix, his final race before a partial-season promotion to the senior seat.
Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old Formula 2 driver, will replace Hadjar at the junior team, running next to Liam Lawson at the former Toro Rosso program.
Lindblad currently runs sixth in his first year in the Formula 2 championship, after finishing fourth in his only Formula 3 season last year.
The 2026 season will see a regulation reset on the car side, in addition to the engine changes, which could prove to be a challenge for Verstappen and his teammates.
Red Bull's decision to drop Tsunoda and promote Hadjar may have significant implications for the team's performance in the upcoming season.
The team's lead driver, Max Verstappen, will be looking to continue his successful run, with the support of his new teammate, Isack Hadjar.
The Australian Grand Prix in February will be the first test of the new driver lineup, and fans will be eagerly waiting to see how the team performs.
Tsunoda's demotion is a significant setback for the Japanese driver, who had been hoping to establish himself as a top driver in the Formula 1 championship.
The upcoming season will be an important one for Red Bull, with the new driver lineup and the regulation changes, which could shake up the championship standings.
The team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, and the new driver lineup will be a key factor in their success.
The 2026 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with many changes and challenges ahead for the teams and drivers.
Yuki Tsunoda will be looking to regain his form and prove himself as a top driver, despite his demotion to a test and reserve role.
The Japanese driver has shown promise in the past, and fans will be hoping to see him back on the track soon.
The future of Formula 1 is looking bright, with many talented young drivers like Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad coming up through the ranks.
The sport is always evolving, and the 2026 season will be an important one for the teams and drivers as they adapt to the new regulations and challenges.
Red Bull's decision to promote Hadjar and drop Tsunoda is a significant one, and fans will be eagerly waiting to see how the team performs in the upcoming season.