The overlooked name Red Bull could turn to after if Verstappen walks away

The Japanese driver has, like many second Red Bull drivers before him, fallen victim to the ruthless comparison with Max Verstappen, who last season came close to pulling off a title charge despite spending long stretches with a car inferior to McLaren.

Tsunoda, on the other hand, despite the boost of his promotion - announced on home soil in Japan at the third round and accompanied by Liam Lawson’s demotion - has spent most of the season outside the points, with a gap in the standings that paints a rather harsh picture.

Red Bull thus found itself almost forced to act once again on the second driver front, handing an opportunity to Isack Hadjar, who had impressed during his rookie season at Racing Bulls and has continued to hold his own at the start of this campaign against his far more established teammate.

Tsunoda, meanwhile, found himself without a full-time seat for 2026 after five seasons in Formula 1, opting to take on a reserve role in the hope of securing a return to the grid next year.

Experience is certainly not lacking, and he has shown flashes of strong pace over the years, as seen during his time in Faenza. However, his underwhelming final season at Red Bull still looms large in the collective memory - and in Formula 1, it is always the most recent results that tend to define a driver’s reputation.

With Verstappen firmly established as the undisputed team leader and Hadjar emerging as a promising talent, the chances of seeing Tsunoda back within the Red Bull fold appear close to zero. However, the Dutchman’s growing frustration is something Milton Keynes cannot afford to ignore.

As things stand, a Verstappen exit from Formula 1 remains more speculation than reality. But if he were to walk away, the question becomes unavoidable: who could replace him? Logic would point towards a driver with similar pedigree and proven success, but what if such a move were to come at a time when most of the top names are already tied down for 2027?

This is where Tsunoda could emerge as a low-cost, ready-made option, already familiar with the environment, should circumstances take a turn for the worse. He may not be a front-line name at this stage, but having a Plan B in place is always better than having none.

Track action at Suzuka rolls on after the Japanese Grand Prix, with a two-day Pirelli test scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, involving both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.

Verstappen will not take part, with the Dutchman - increasingly vocal about his frustration with the current technical regulations - opting to skip the dry tyre programme.

After coming home eighth in Sunday’s race, Verstappen flew back to Monaco overnight, landing in the early hours of Monday following the long trip from Japan. He will be replaced by Tsunoda, who will have the chance to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in front of his home crowd.