Tsunoda sends clear 2027 message after Dutch GP cameo: "They should want me"

Yuki Tsunoda has delivered a reminder to the Formula 1 paddock following a combative return to grand prix action at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, declaring that teams yet to finalise their 2027 driver lineups want to sign him, telling team bosses "they should call me".

Stepping into the cockpit after spending eight months largely on the sidelines, the Japanese racer put together a remarkably composed performance across the entire race weekend. Facing what was arguably the steepest learning curve on the grid, adapting on very short notice to the sport's radical 2026 technical regulations, Tsunoda ran in genuine contention for world championship points for the vast majority of the grand prix, battling firmly inside the top nine until the final laps around the punishing Zandvoort dunes.

Reflecting on his efforts after the chequered flag, Tsunoda expressed satisfaction with how quickly he regained competitive rhythm despite having driven a contemporary Formula 1 car only four times since the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi. He credited Red Bull with keeping his sharpness intact through intensive simulator sessions, though he admitted that real-world operational challenges went far beyond what any virtual preparation could replicate.

He said: "Honestly I think I was able to progress faster than I expected. I drove only four times out of eight months since last Abu Dhabi, so with that I did pretty well and thanks to Red Bull, they kept me pretty sharp with the simulator and those things. But certainly, I definitely enjoyed it overall. I think I gave it 100 as much as I can with the current stage. I think I did pretty okay.

"I think that this was an overall positive, and I think what performance I showed is positive. So, it's up to also my manager and also the other teams that who have not decided yet about the next day's lineup, if they want to have me or not, but they should! They should call me!"

The comprehensive changes introduced under the 2026 rulebook, from intricate power unit deployment strategies and revised cockpit switchgear to vastly different tyre degradation behaviours, demanded complete mental and physical focus. Tsunoda noted that managing tyre life during wheel-to-wheel combat was the most challenging hurdle of his outing, though extensive support from the team helped simplify his operational workload inside the cockpit. While narrowly missing out on points at the finish was disappointing, fighting wheel-to-wheel against established full-time competitors proved his natural racecraft remains razor-sharp.

Above all, the Dutch GP served as a vital shop window for Tsunoda’s future racing ambitions, although he will be likely be back on the sidelines when Isack Hadjar returns from his wrist injury in time for the Italian GP.