Last hour! The surprising new Yuki Tsunoda agreement with Alpine is filtered after Laurent Mekies’s statement

The world of Formula 1 is boiling with the recent news about the future of Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese pilot of Red Bull Racing, whose continuity in the team for the 2026 season is questioned. An unexpected filtration has shaken the Paddock: Tsunoda could be close to an agreement with Alpine, a revelation that arrives behind the words of the chief of Red Bull, Laurent Mekies, about the pilot’s performance. With only 7 points in 12 races in 2025, in the face of the impressive results of the young talents of Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, Tsunoda faces a critical moment in his career. Can Japanese reverse his luck or will he be replaced in the competitive world of F1? Next, we explore the details of this intrigue that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

Tsunoda’s performance in the 2025 season has been disappointing for a team like Red Bull, which aspires to dominate both the pilot championship and that of builders. With just 7 points accumulated in 12 major awards, the Japanese has been far behind his teammate, Max Verstappen, who has added 187 points and two victories in the same season. This gap has generated doubts about Tsunoda’s ability to stay in a seat as coveted as Red Bull’s. Laurent Mekies, the new team leader, has expressed caution to the pilot: “Yuki is a fast guy. The circumstances have been difficult, but the team is far behind him, trying to unlock all his potential. I trust that he can demonstrate his true value in the near future.” However, these words do not hide the pressure on Tsunoda to improve its performance in the remaining 10 races of the year.

The technical context has not played in favor of the Japanese pilot. The RB21, the Red Bull car for 2025, has presented problems that have affected not only Tsunoda, but also its predecessor, Sergio Pérez. Despite the improvements introduced in circuits such as Spa, Tsunoda has not received the same updates that Verstappen, which has limited its ability to compete at the same level. “They told me yesterday that we will not use these new features,” Tsunoda confirmed in Spa, highlighting the disparity in the treatment within the team. This lack of parity has been pointed out by experts such as Matthew Somerfield, who said that Tsunoda has not had the same opportunities that are version in terms of car components. Despite this, the responsibility falls to Japanese to make the most of the opportunities that arise.

Meanwhile, Racing Bulls pilots, Red Bull’s brother team, are shining with their own light. Isack Hadjar, a rookie who has impressed in his debut season, leads the team’s points table with 22 units, closely followed by Liam Lawson with 20. Hadjar, in particular, is emerging as the favorite to replace Tsunoda in 2026 if he fails to improve. “Just vouchers what you put in your last career,” said Hadjar, making clear his competitive approach and his ambition to ascend to the main team. Lawson, meanwhile, has shown a remarkable recovery after a difficult beginning in Red Bull, where it was replaced by Tsunoda after only two races. With three results at the points in the last five races, Lawson is demonstrating that it could be a viable option to return to the senior team.

The future of Tsunoda is also marked by Red Bull’s relationship with Honda, the Japanese manufacturer who has backed the pilot since its inception in F1. However, this connection could become a double -edged sword. Honda will end its association with Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season and will begin to supply engines exclusively to Aston Martin from 2026. This opens a door for Tsunoda, who could look for a seat in the Silverstone team. However, the options are limited, since Aston Martin has confirmed to Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll by 2026. Despite the rumors that link him with a possible role as a reserve pilot, the possibilities of a starting seat seem remote due to the structure of the team and family ties of Stroll.

Another option that has emerged on the horizon is Cadillac, the new team that will debut in F1 in 2026. Although Tsunoda has been mentioned in relation to this project, the chances of getting a seat are low, since Cadillac seems to be looking for pilots with greater experience, such as Sergio Pérez or Valtteri Bottas. “Cadillac would make somersy if Tsunoda were available,” said a source close to the team, but the deadlines to confirm his alignment could not align with the situation of Tsunoda, who still expects clarity about his future with Red Bull.

The pressure on tsunoda is immense, and its situation is not new in Red Bull. The team has a quick change history in its driver’s alignment, with names such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Pérez facing similar challenges when competing with Verstappen. The former F1 pilot Robert Doornbos was blunt when analyzing the situation: “Yuki’s performance in the second seat is the worst in the history of the team for a second pilot. It is a painful verification. I think Yuki is an incredible guy and has shown good things, but in Red Bull is far from that.” These words reflect the feeling that Tsunoda may not live up to the expectations of a team that prioritizes immediate performance.

Despite the difficulties, Tsunoda maintains an optimistic attitude. In a recent interview, he said: “If I look at the data, the difference with Max in Silverstone in Q2 is quite similar if we take into account the difference between the packages.” This confidence in his progress, although not reflected in the results, could be key to convincing Mekies and the Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, to give him another opportunity. However, with talents like Hadjar and Lawson, stepping on his heels, and the possibility that Red Bull looks for external options such as Indycar pilot Alex Palou, the margin of error for Tsunoda is minimal.

Uncertainty about Tsunoda’s future also has an emotional impact on the team. After the Belgium Grand Prix, it was reported that Red Bull engineers, visibly discouraged, held an emergency meeting with the pilot. The atmosphere in the garage was described as “a wake”, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. Despite this environment, Mekies has reiterated his commitment to support Tsunoda: “We are working to express its speed, and if you do, you will get the right results.” However, time is exhausted, and the next races will be decisive to determine if Tsunoda can ensure its place in F1.

The case of Tsunoda is not only a sports performance history, but also of strategy and loyalty in the world of formula 1. with the departure of Honda from Red Bull and the arrival of new teams such as Cadillac, the pilot market is more competitive than ever. If Tsunoda fails to reverse his fate, he could face a sabbatical year in 2026, waiting for an opportunity as a pilot reserves or exploring other categories such as Indycar or the World Resistance Championship. Fans, meanwhile, are divided. Some see in Aston Martin a hope for Tsunoda due to their connection with Honda, while others believe that their best option could be out of F1.

In conclusion, the future of Yuki tsunoda in Formula 1 hits a thread. The next races will be crucial to demonstrate that it deserves a place on the grid of 2026, either with Red Bull, Alpine or other team. The filtration on a possible agreement with Alpine has added an unexpected turn to this narrative, but without concrete results, Tsunoda could run out of options. With the pressure of the young talents of Red Bull and the changes in the alliances of the manufacturers, the Japanese faces the greatest challenge of his career. Will you be able to surprise the Paddock or will it be another name on the long list of pilots eclipsed by Verstappen’s shadow? Only time will say it.