Helmut Marko blocked Yuki Tsunoda from joining Haas for the 2026 F1 season

Haas were very interested in signing Yuki Tsunoda before Helmut Marko intervened to block the move, according to journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm. The decision ultimately left Tsunoda without a full-time Formula 1 seat for 2026, ending a five-season run on the grid.

A career turning point after Red Bull promotion

Tsunoda’s situation is particularly stark given the promise surrounding his promotion to Red Bull in early 2025, which came at the expense of Liam Lawson. That move appeared to be the long-awaited breakthrough that could redefine his career.

Instead, Tsunoda struggled to build on the form he had previously shown at Racing Bulls. With Isack Hadjar promoted and Arvid Lindblad brought in from Formula 2 to the sister team, Tsunoda was squeezed out of Red Bull’s long-term plans.

Although he remains involved as a test and reserve driver, his prospects of returning to a full-time race seat appear to depend on leaving the Red Bull structure entirely.

Tsunoda: "Not finished yet"

Reacting publicly to the news that he would not race in 2026, Tsunoda made clear he has no intention of giving up.

“Finding out I won’t have a race seat in 2026 was incredibly tough, but I’m determined to work harder than ever with Red Bull as test and reserve driver to develop with the team, and prove I deserve a place on the grid. Life’s full of setbacks…”

The message was a defiant one, underlining his determination to engineer a route back onto the grid.

Why Haas could be Tsunoda’s route back

Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, Mitchell-Malm suggested that Haas could offer Tsunoda that opportunity in 2027.

“I’m going to stick my neck out and say Yuki Tsunoda,” he said. “I think Haas is his route back into F1. Komatsu was very interested in Tsunoda 12 months ago.”

Mitchell-Malm explained that Marko’s intervention “snuffed out that interest quite early”, even though Tsunoda had been an intriguing option in the early stages of the driver market.

While Tsunoda has been closely associated with Honda, Haas’ title sponsorship and technical partnership with Toyota is not viewed as an obstacle. Instead, it could create an opening for Tsunoda to become a reference driver within that collaboration.

“I think it’s possible that, with that Toyota link, Toyota seize the opportunity for Tsunoda to become the reference for what they want to achieve with that Haas partnership,” Mitchell-Malm added. “I think Tsunoda to Haas has quite a lot of sense to it once you look into it.”

Could Tsunoda replace Esteban Ocon?

A potential opening at Haas could emerge through Esteban Ocon. Komatsu has publicly expressed frustration with the Frenchman’s performances, despite Ocon scoring his first points of 2026 at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Ocon has finished inside the top 10 just five times in the last 16 races, while Oliver Bearman — despite his relative inexperience — is increasingly becoming the team’s lead driver.

Bearman remains part of the Ferrari driver family and is unlikely to be promoted elsewhere in 2027, particularly with Lewis Hamilton under a three-year contract and no indication of an early departure.

Why other options look less likely

Although Honda currently supplies Aston Martin, a move there appears improbable. Fernando Alonso is inclined to sign a new contract, while Lance Stroll’s seat is secure.

Against that backdrop, Haas stands out as Tsunoda’s most realistic pathway back into Formula 1 — and one that might finally materialise now that the obstacle which blocked it in the first place is no longer in the way.