‘Second driver curse’ is at play again. Alex Albon is familiar with the bitter taste. Liam Lawson was bitten, too, while Sergio Perez and his struggles were a whole different story. And well, Yuki Tsunoda? It’s not like we didn’t see it coming.

The Japanese driver has been on the grid since the 2021 season. He drove for RBR’s junior team AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) up until this year. However, he failed to match his performance with his teammate, Max Verstappen, and ahead of the season’s final race, Red Bull axed the Japanese driver, who had raced not even a complete season in blue.

Isack Hadjar to get behind the wheel alongside Max Verstappen in 2026

Isack Hadjar made his F1 debut this season with Racing Bulls and managed to score a podium in the Dutch Grand Prix with just fifteen races in. His performance has been surprisingly consistent, with 51 season points in 23 races. Additionally, he has 10 top-10 finishes, with 4 top-10s coming in the sprint races. 

Not just that, he has also managed to outperform Yuki Tsunoda by delivering some strong races in feeder series F2 and impressing when driving a Red Bull in Free Practice 1 outings at Silverstone and in Mexico. On the other hand, across 23 Grand Prix races, the 22-year-old has managed only 33 season points and is currently sitting in 15th place. And as far as top-10 finishes are concerned, he has put in only 7, with 4 coming in sprints.

Hence, Hadjar’s impressive performance has earned him a seat alongside Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season. With the grid packed for next year, Tsunoda will not have a full-time seat.

“This year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has been absolutely amazing, I’ve learnt a lot and secured a maiden podium,” Hadjar said. “I feel I’m much better as a racing driver and a person, due to the Team‘s support and preparation. I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud they feel the same. It’s an awesome move, to work with the best and learn from Max is something I can’t wait for.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull’s junior driver, Arvid Lindblad, will jump ranks and drive for Racing Bulls next year. He debuted in Formula 2 just this season and managed to clinch two race wins. Further, the 18-year-old is sixth in the championship heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

While that is that, Red Bull’s official X account has left a message for the Japanese on their official X account.

“ありがとう、ユウキ Thank you, Yuki, for your commitment and hard work this season. We’ll keep pushing for a strong weekend in Abu Dhabi and look forward to working with you as our Test and Reserve Driver for 2026.”

With that, Tsunoda will continue to take part in the media and sim activities for the coming season. But what is this ‘second driver curse,’ whose latest victim was Yuki Tsunoda?

Laurent Mekies reflects on working with Yuki Tsunoda through the years

Max Verstappen has been racing for Red Bull since the 2017 season and has so far raced alongside six drivers. None of them has been able to match the Dutchman, who has been groomed by his father, Jos Verstappen, who also happens to be a former F1 driver. Even though Sergio Perez delivered quite a strong performance initially, the team ultimately sacked him this year owing to his 2024 season.

Another reason why the curse looms large on the second driver is because of the team’s unapologetic one-driver approach, which has only become more pronounced with Verstappen’s long stay. Now add the success that he has brought to the team, and it’s a whole other ballgame. Of course, Red Bull’s engineers are more inclined to his feedback, and of course, they develop the car to suit his strengths, and so on.

The pressure that Verstappen brings simply because of his performance is too immense for his teammates to cope with, and that is exactly what Tsunoda faced in his first and last season driving for RBR. Team principal Laurent Mekies has previously worked with him and shared an emotional farewell message.

“Everyone in the sport would agree it is impossible not to like Yuki, his personality is infectious, and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family,” Mekies said. “On behalf of everyone at Red Bull, I thank him for what he has contributed so far and we know he will provide invaluable support to the 2026 projects moving forwards.”

This seems sudden for Tsunoda. Ever since his debut in 2021, he has been considered a prodigy for Red Bull Racing’s future. Not only was he given the chance quite late, but it was also taken away rather early.

At the same time, the team has suffered massively in the Constructors’ Championship. While Max Verstappen is still a contender for the World Championship heading into the season’s final race, RBR isn’t anywhere close to the top of the Constructors’ standings.

The team will be hoping to break this barrier and move closer to the top in 2026 with Isack Hadjar. However, considering the new regulations next year, it is tough to say where RBR will stand, especially owing to their new power units.