Yuki Tsunoda is not giving up on his Formula 1 career after leaving the Red Bull family at the end of 2025.

The Japanese driver was dropped by Red Bull at the end of the year for Isack Hadjar. Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson after just two races, but he could not get to grips with the car, scoring just 30 points in 22 races with the team.

Tsunoda has raced with Racing Bulls in 2026, having signed as a reserve driver for the season. He stepped in for Lawson, who replaced Hadjar after he broke his hand over the summer, in Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid, scoring a point in Italy.

Yuki Tsunoda is ‘banging the door down’ at Cadillac for 2027 seat

Tsunoda is not in Red Bull’s long-term plans, and they would be happy to let him explore other opportunities on the grid, or indeed in other categories.

Tsunoda has been linked with an IndyCar seat, as main backers Honda look to find him a drive for 2027. But the Japanese driver is determined to stay in F1, and he is hoping to barge his way into Cadillac.

Sergio Perez recently signed a new contract until 2029, but teammate Valtteri Bottas is reportedly under threat of losing his seat. Cadillac are keen on Colton Herta, who is set to take part in FP1 in Mexico City.

The team want an American driver in their car, but they do have other options on the table. According to journalist Edd Straw, Tsunoda is ‘banging the door down’ at Cadillac to try and get in the conversation for 2027.

“They’re not sitting down with him hammering out an exit for Bottas. He is under contract for next year, both of them were talked about as multi-year contracts.

“I would also contend Bottas has been a little bit better than it looks like, because it’s been often hard to compare those two. Perez has been the better driver, certainly, he’s ahead on like 82% of the racing laps. That’s pretty significant.

“But Cadillac have a decision to make in terms of what they want to prioritise with their driver choice. Do they want to keep on that learning curve, keep building up, in which case Bottas is a very, very good option.

“If they want an American driver, then they’ve got to go Herta haven’t they? If that’s the main thing GM, who own a significant minority stake – TWG group are the majority owners. If they decide they want an American driver then they put Herta in.

“The other possibility is that they go for a Yuki Tsunoda, who’s been banging the door down to have a drive there.”

Jack Doohan among other drivers looking to land Cadillac F1 seat

It is not just Herta and Tsunoda hoping to replace Bottas at Cadillac. Straw and colleague Josh Suttill say the likes of Frederik Vesti, Jack Doohan and Paul Aron are also approaching the team for a seat.

“Everyone, of course, is banging the door down to get a drive there.” added Straw.

“Fred Vesti; the Mercedes third driver who will be out this weekend for Mercedes, who drives the Whelen Cadillac for Action Express in IMSA. So he’s in the Cadillac family, another one. Anyone who hasn’t got a F1 race seat…”

Suttill said: “Jack Doohan, Paul Aron. Like you say, everyone else out in that FP1. I mean, I wonder if it’ll give a little more incentive for people to push.”