Tsunoda reveals he was on the beach when called up by Racing Bulls for Zandvoort

Key takeaways

• Beach day interrupted: Yuki Tsunoda revealed he was on a beach in Greece when he received the emergency call to replace Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for the Dutch Grand Prix.
• Red Bull driver reshuffle: Lawson was called up to Red Bull to replace the injured Isack Hadjar, who suffered a wrist injury during a boxing workout, opening the door for Tsunoda’s return to the grid.
• Fully prepared: Despite the short notice, Tsunoda expressed full confidence in his physical fitness and driving rhythm, having completed extensive Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions throughout the season.

Being a reserve driver sometimes brings unusual situations, especially when it involves a last-minute call-up to race — precisely what happened to Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver revealed he was enjoying the final moments of his summer break on a beach in Greece when he received the call informing him he would be stepping in for the Dutch Grand Prix.

The opportunity arose following a wrist injury sustained by Isack Hadjar during a boxing training session. Liam Lawson was drafted in to cover for the Frenchman at Red Bull, leaving the New Zealander’s seat at Racing Bulls open for Tsunoda this weekend.

“I was with my manager and some friends in Greece spending time together. I was on the beach,” Tsunoda told GRANDE PRÊMIO during Thursday’s (20) press conference in Zandvoort when asked how he received the news.

“I don’t want to create a narrative that I was just enjoying the beach the whole time!” he joked. “I kept training and everything. But when I found out from my manager, I was on the beach, relaxed, looking at the beautiful, wonderful sea.”

“Suddenly, I got a call: ‘You need to go back to the UK.’ I had only been in Greece for 24 hours, and they already wanted me in the UK. I asked why, and they said, ‘You might have to race this week,'” added Tsunoda, who was Max Verstappen’s teammate last year, except for the opening two grands prix of 2025.

This year, however, Tsunoda lost his seat to Hadjar, who made a strong impression during his Formula 1 rookie campaign with Racing Bulls. Nevertheless, Tsunoda remained heavily involved in development work, which is why he believes a lack of track sharpness will not be an issue.

“Physically and mentally, I’m fit because I trained almost every day for a long time. I had plenty of time to train since I didn’t have much else to do besides that. I did four TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] sessions and completed the equivalent of about five race distances,” he explained.

“So I am well prepared and gained good driving experience in those tests. I just need to get used to this car, which I imagine will be quite different, with different procedures, launch controls, and everything else,” he continued.

“Having only one practice session will be a bit tricky. But that’s why I’m not setting high expectations for now. I just want to enjoy myself and have fun, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Tsunoda concluded.

Formula 1 returns this weekend, from August 21 to 23, for the Dutch Grand Prix — the 12th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all the track action live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Stay up to date on all paddock news on our news page.

Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why is Yuki Tsunoda racing for Racing Bulls at the Dutch Grand Prix?

Yuki Tsunoda was called up to drive for Racing Bulls after Liam Lawson was moved up to Red Bull to replace Isack Hadjar, who suffered a wrist injury during a boxing session.

2. Where was Yuki Tsunoda when he received the call to race?

Tsunoda was on vacation in Greece, relaxing on a beach, having arrived in the country just 24 hours prior before being instructed to return immediately to the UK.

3. Has Yuki Tsunoda driven a Formula 1 car in 2026 prior to this call-up?

Yes, while serving as a reserve driver, Tsunoda completed four Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions, driving the equivalent of approximately five full race distances to stay race-fit.