Honda is assisting Red Bull with TPC testing, but for Yuki Tsunoda, any support comes too late: Lawson will most likely take the last Racing Bulls seat
Red Bull is negotiating with Honda about supplying engines for TPC test days, but even this deal will not be a lifeline for Yuki Tsunoda. According to consistent media reports, the last free Racing Bulls seat for 2026 will go to Liam Lawson, while Isack Hadjar will move up to Red Bull Racing and Arvid Lindblad to the sister team. The course has been set for the new engine era – but for Tsunoda, it leads off the grid.
With the change to the new 2026 regulations, Red Bull Racing and the Racing Bulls are switching to the in-house Red Bull Powertrains Ford engine. For the so-called TPC tests—drives with Formula 1 cars that are at least two years old—teams are allowed to use their previous engine manufacturers. The FIA requires them to supply engines, but without a price limit. This means that Honda can charge whatever Honda wants—and Red Bull has to pay these sums if it wants to continue testing young drivers.
Helmut Marko said after a meeting in Qatar: “We have always had a good and honest relationship with Honda. We had a meeting on Friday, and I think we are well on the way to resolving this issue.” The statement clearly shows that Red Bull wants to finalize the deal – and that the TPC days are strategically extremely important for the coming year.
Why Honda won’t rescue Tsunoda despite good relations
There was speculation in the paddock as to whether Honda might make a last-ditch attempt to keep Tsunoda in the cockpit despite the Ford partnership. But the reality suggests otherwise. In Qatar, Tsunoda hinted that he knew “something he couldn’t say yet” — a hint that is now becoming clear: he is losing his regular seat.
Marko was asked openly whether Tsunoda could be part of the Honda deal. His answer was: “There are different ways to solve such problems.” An elegant but very clearly negative answer. If Tsunoda were a factor, Marko would have said so clearly. Instead, developments show that the Japanese driver will no longer play a role in the active racing squad in 2026.
Even Honda couldn’t do much. A Honda sticker on a car supported by Ford would be hard to justify. And Red Bull has been shifting its focus for some time: Hadjar is considered the new hope, Lawson an all-rounder – while Tsunoda has fallen short of expectations.
Only one option remains in the background for Tsunoda
The driver decisions are to be officially announced on Tuesday after the Qatar race, but the information from the environment is clear. Isack Hadjar will be Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing in 2026. Arvid Lindblad will get a cockpit at Racing Bulls. The remaining seat was long a Tsunoda-Lawson question – now Lawson seems to be set.
At most, Tsunoda will remain in a role as a reserve driver. This could be supported by the Honda-TPC deal: more test days, more mileage, perhaps a personal test program. But a regular seat is out of the question. And Tsunoda has known this for a long time.
Why the TPC deal is more important to Red Bull than any individual driver
The limited number of test days in modern Formula 1 make TPC programs an invaluable tool. They are also outside the budget cap – an advantage for a financially strong team like Red Bull. The young drivers have to stay in the car, and that requires engine units that are no longer in regular use. Honda is the only viable partner for this.
Marko put it clearly: “Of course, we have to reach an agreement with Honda.” This is essential for the future of the Red Bull junior program. And that is precisely why the priority is shifting: testing and talent take precedence over individual driver careers.