Yuki
Tsunoda
Japan
·
F1
Date of birth | 5 May 2000 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Sagamihara |
Age | 26 |
Nationality | Japan |
Discipline | Formula 1 |
Yuki Tsunoda's path to Formula One began in 2016 when he debuted at the Suzuka round of the Japanese F4 championship. In total that series, he won 10 races and finished on the podium 18 times, with 12 pole positions and five fastest laps. In 2018, he won the title by 14 points, before joining the Red Bull Junior Team and the Honda Formula Dream Project to race in the FIA F3 series in 2019.
Yuki drove for Jenzer Motorsport in the F3 championship for the 2019 season, where he impressed with a number of podium finishes in the new series, as well as a Euroformula Open race win in Hockenheim, Germany.
From F3 to F2
His 2019 drives netted him a seat with the prestigious Carlin team in the F2 series for the 2020 season, where he was able to deliver on his exceptional promise.
Despite a disrupted calendar, Yuki made a strong impact in F2, winning races in Belgium, Bahrain and at the UK's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. He remained in the title contention until the very end, eventually finishing third in his debut F2 season, just 15 points short of the title, and was named Rookie of the Year.
Racing up to F1
Yuki's spectacular performances during the F2 season caught the eye and earned him that coveted spot on the F1 grid for 2021 for Scuderia AlphaTauri.
In his first season in F1, Yuki showed plenty of promise and he finished in the top 10 on numerous occasions, with his best showing coming at the final race in Abu Dhabi, where he claimed fourth place.
Yuki would finish in the points on four occasions in 2022, with Scuderia AlphaTauri confirming towards the end of the year that the Japanese driver would remain with the team for 2023. It proved to be a tough season for Yuki, but the Japanese driver showed his class late in the campaign as he secured top 10 finishes in Texas, Sāo Paulo and Abu Dhabi.
A move to Oracle Red Bull Racing
He's still chasing a place on the podium, but 2024 saw Yuki finish in the top 10 several times again for Visa Cash App RB (formerly Scuderia AlphaTauri) and his racing skills continued to impress.
Following a strong start to 2025, after two races, Tsunoda moved up to take on a new challenge as he became Max Verstappen's team-mate at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the remainder of the season, before moving into the role of Red Bull Test and Reserve Driver for 2026.
A return to competitive action
Tsunoda returned from F1's 2026 summer break to find his services required, following Isack Hadjar's wrist injury. Stepping in to take Liam Lawson's place as the Kiwi driver moved across to stand in for Hadjar, Tsunoda was straight into competitive F1 action for the first time in the season. “It came as a real surprise,” he explained. “And I’m feeling quite calm now and looking forward to the race., because I’ve been waiting for this moment. I’ve been longing for it!”
Yuki Tsunoda at Shanghai in 2026
© Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Outside of racing, Yuki Tsunoda has a passion for gaming
© Jason Halayko/Red Bull Content Pool
Yuki Tsunoda is a blur of speed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Yuki Tsunoda at the wheel for Red Bull Racing
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool