Yuki Tsunoda celebrated his return to the points after finishing 10th in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (6). Starting 15th at Monza, the Japanese driver completed another recovery drive for Racing Bulls and said he was “very happy with the result” after another opportunity to learn the 2026 car.
Tsunoda was initially concerned about making his medium tyres last until the finish, but the compound performed better than expected. His return to the grid came after Isack Hadjar was ruled out with a wrist injury, prompting Liam Lawson to move up to Red Bull and opening Racing Bulls’ seat for Tsunoda once again. Red Bull confirmed that Lawson would replace Hadjar at Monza, with Tsunoda returning to Racing Bulls.
“We had a good race today, I’m very happy with the result and to be back in the points. A big thank you to everyone at Racing Bulls for helping me get back up to speed so quickly. I was a little bit concerned about making the medium tyres last until the end, but they performed better than expected,” Tsunoda said.
The result was another step forward for Tsunoda after his unexpected return to F1 machinery at the Dutch Grand Prix. He had described the experience of driving the 2026-generation car as being similar to feeling like a rookie again, given the changes in braking, energy management and high-speed balance.
At Monza, however, Tsunoda arrived better prepared after having already completed a race weekend with the car. He was able to focus more on understanding its behaviour and extracting performance throughout the weekend.
“I’m really enjoying learning all the new aspects of the car and continuing to improve every opportunity I get in it. If new opportunities come up in the future, I’ll definitely be ready,” he added.
Tsunoda also made a point of putting Hadjar’s recovery ahead of his own ambitions.
“But most importantly, I hope Isack continues to recover well. I wish him all the best,” the Japanese driver concluded.
Tsunoda’s point was particularly valuable for Racing Bulls after the team had to reorganize its driver line-up for a second consecutive race. The Japanese driver had previously returned to the F1 grid at Zandvoort after spending the opening part of the 2026 season away from a full-time race seat. Tsunoda had explained how his surprise Racing Bulls recall came while he was on holiday in Greece.
The Italian GP therefore provided Tsunoda with another opportunity to demonstrate that he can still contribute when called upon, while also building his understanding of the latest-generation F1 machinery.
Formula 1 now heads to Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix from September 11-13. The race will mark the first F1 event at the new Madring circuit, with GRANDE PRÊMIO covering all the action from the 14th round of the 2026 season.
FAQ
Who will drive for Red Bull at the next F1 race?
Liam Lawson is currently standing in for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull while the Frenchman continues his recovery from a wrist injury. Yuki Tsunoda has returned to Racing Bulls as Lawson’s replacement, meaning the driver reshuffle remains one of the key Red Bull storylines heading into the Spanish GP.
When is the next F1 race in 2026?
The next Formula 1 race is the Spanish Grand Prix, scheduled for September 11-13 at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. It will be the first F1 race at the new venue and the 14th round of the 2026 championship.
Will Yuki Tsunoda get a full-time F1 seat again?
Tsunoda does not currently have a full-time race seat for the 2026 season, but his performances as Racing Bulls’ substitute give him another opportunity to demonstrate his value. His recent points finish at Monza strengthens his case should another F1 opportunity become available.
