Tsunoda's 2027 F1 doors are closing faster than his Racing Bulls showcase can open them

Alpine confirmed Franco Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly for 2027 on August 27, shutting a door Tsunoda's camp had been watching. Executive advisor Flavio Briatore said the pairing "provides the perfect match-up to drive the team forwards into the future."

Williams has also settled on Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, and Aston Martin is expected to continue with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, leaving the grid increasingly tight.

Meanwhile, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed a five-driver contest for the team's open 2027. He named Ryo Hirakawa, Jack Doohan, Leonardo Fornaroli, Rafael Camara, and Esteban Ocon.

Tsunoda's substitute performances have been competent without being transformative. He finished P11 at Zandvoort after being called up from a holiday in Greece with minimal preparation, then scored P10 at Monza for his first point since last November.

But the Monza weekend was far from straightforward: he struggled for pace relative to teammate Arvid Lindblad throughout practice and qualifying before a stronger race day salvaged the result.

The IndyCar option, meanwhile, offers no certainty. Meyer Shank Racing co-owner Mike Shank has made no commitment amid speculation that the seat would require some substantial funding.

As GPblog reported earlier this week, Tsunoda does not want another year in a reserve role and has left negotiations to manager Diego Menchaca while focusing on driving.

The difficulty is that the market is not waiting for him. With Red Bull's pipeline of Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, and Nikola Tsolov fully stocked, and the grid's remaining openings favouring younger or manufacturer-backed alternatives, the list of teams that could realistically pick up the phone is shorter than it was when Tsunoda extended the invitation