Yuki Tsunoda reveals last-minute call-up for Racing Bulls return at Zandvoort

Tsunoda’s F1 comeback began on a Greek beach

Yuki Tsunoda’s return to Formula 1 came with barely any preparation. After Isack Hadjar injured his wrist during the summer break, Liam Lawson was moved from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing, opening the door for Tsunoda to return to the junior team at Zandvoort.

He initially struggled to understand the urgency. “I was in Greece [for] just 24 hours and you already want me to go to the UK?” he recalled. The explanation quickly followed: he might race that week. His response was immediate: “OK, that's where I'm going then!”

Fitness is not a concern, but the car will be

Tsunoda’s appearance will mark his first F1 race since the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has, however, completed testing in previous Red Bull cars this year and continued intensive simulator and physical preparation.

“Physically and in terms of my mind, I think it's sharp enough,” he said, citing almost daily training and four TPCs that included five race distances. That preparation has left him confident of being ready to compete, even with the short notice.

The greater challenge will be adapting to the Racing Bulls car. Tsunoda has mainly worked with Red Bull this season and only used the Racing Bulls simulator for the first time on Wednesday. With just one free practice session available, he is deliberately keeping expectations low.

“All I just need to do is to get used to this car,” Tsunoda explained. He expects differences in car behaviour and operating procedures, although the steering-wheel switches remain familiar enough to prevent the transition from becoming overwhelming.

“For now, I just enjoy and have fun, which I wanted to have for a long time,” he said. Whether Zandvoort becomes a one-off return or the beginning of a longer spell remains unclear, with no public timeline yet available for Hadjar’s recovery.