Yuki Tsunoda: 2026 Red Bull Driver, Net Worth, Family & Career

Being a Formula 1 driver isn’t just about raw pace – it’s about timing, backing, and a seat that opens at the right moment. Yuki Tsunoda, the 24-year-old from Sagamihara, Japan, has spent four seasons working his way through the Red Bull junior system, but as the team reshuffles its driver lineup for 2026, his status is shifting dramatically.

Full name: Yuki Tsunoda ·
Birth date: November 5, 2000 ·
Birthplace: Sagamihara, Japan ·
Current F1 team: Racing Bulls (moving to test/reserve 2026) ·
Car number: 22 ·
First F1 season: 2021

The table below summarizes key biographical facts about Yuki Tsunoda.

What’s happening to Yuki Tsunoda?

Yuki Tsunoda’s trajectory took a sharp turn in December 2025 when Red Bull confirmed its 2026 driver lineup. According to reports from ESPN and Formula1.com, Tsunoda will no longer hold a race seat. Instead, he will move into a test and reserve driver role for Red Bull Racing in 2026, while his place on the grid goes to Isack Hadjar.

Red Bull’s driver decision for 2026

• Isack Hadjar will drive alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing – ESPN
• Liam Lawson stays at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad – The Race
• Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane said the team delayed naming its 2026 line-up out of respect for Tsunoda – RacingNews365
• Permane also stated the announcement was timed so Tsunoda could have a final race with Red Bull Racing – RacingNews365

The pattern: Red Bull is promoting its own junior talent (Hadjar, Lindblad) while keeping Tsunoda within the family as a backup. It’s a move that signals the team values its pipeline more than continuity with a driver it promoted just one season earlier.

Yuki Tsunoda’s reaction to the decision

Tsunoda described the news as “incredibly tough” but reaffirmed his commitment. In an interview published by Formula1.com, he said: “F1 is my life – I will give everything to get back onto the grid.” The reaction underlines both the emotional weight of the demotion and his determination to remain in the sport.

The decision underscores the relentless pressure on mid-tier drivers to deliver immediate results.

Has Yuki Tsunoda ever won a race?

As of the end of the 2025 season, Yuki Tsunoda has not won a Formula 1 Grand Prix. His best result is fourth place, achieved during the 2023 season. Across his career, he has scored points in multiple seasons but has not stood on the podium – Formula1.com noted he “struggled with early qualifying exits and only occasional minor points” during his time at Red Bull Racing.

F1 race wins and podiums

• Grand Prix wins: 0 – Wikipedia
• Podiums: 0 – Wikipedia
• Best finish: 4th – ESPN

The table below tracks Tsunoda’s championship standings across his F1 seasons.

What this means: Tsunoda has never been a front-runner. His career points tally is modest, and his 2025 stint at Red Bull Racing did not change that trajectory. The decision to demote him reflects a team that expects its second driver to deliver podiums, not just points.

Who are Yuki Tsunoda’s parents and is his family rich?

Yuki Tsunoda’s parents have stayed out of the public eye. Available information suggests they come from a middle-class background in Sagamihara, Japan. There is no public record of substantial family wealth – ESPN reports that his early career was funded largely through the Honda Formula Dream Project rather than family money.

Mother and father details

• His mother has been described in interviews as a key support figure, but her name and profession are not publicly verified.
• His father’s identity and profession are also not widely reported. Tsunoda rarely discusses them in media.

Family wealth and background

Contrary to the stereotype that all F1 drivers come from wealthy families, Tsunoda’s path was different. The cost to reach Formula 1 can exceed $10 million, but Tsunoda’s funding came through Honda’s driver program, which covered much of his karting and junior single-seater costs – RacingNews365. This places him among a minority of drivers who didn’t rely on family millions.

The pattern highlights how talent alone is rarely enough without institutional backing.

Does Yuki Tsunoda have a partner?

Public records and social media activity indicate that Yuki Tsunoda is in a relationship with Machi Kuragi, a Japanese model and influencer. The couple have been seen together at several events, though neither has made a formal announcement. Tsunoda typically keeps his personal life private, so details beyond their relationship status remain unconfirmed.

Girlfriend Machi Kuragi

• Machi Kuragi is active on Instagram and has posted photos with Tsunoda on occasion.
• She works as a model and brand influencer in Japan.
• No statement from either party has confirmed the relationship; it is inferred from public appearances.

This privacy aligns with Tsunoda’s preference to keep his personal life separate from his racing career.

What is Yuki Tsunoda’s net worth in 2025?

Estimates of Tsunoda’s net worth hover around $5 million, based on his F1 salary (approximately $2 million per year) and endorsements from Honda and other brands. However, his exact financial details are not publicly disclosed. The figure is derived from typical driver compensation data and sponsorship deals reported by outlets like Motorsport.com.

Salary and earnings

Endorsements and career income

Tsunoda’s primary financial backing remains Honda, which supported him through the Formula Dream Project from 2016 onward. Beyond that, his commercial appeal is modest compared to top-tier drivers, which limits his off-track earnings. The net worth estimate of $5 million is a rough industry calculation and should be treated as such.

Do you have to be rich to enter Formula 1?

The short answer: not always, but it helps – a lot. The cost of climbing the motorsport ladder from karting to Formula 1 can exceed $10 million. Most drivers on the current grid come from families with significant wealth. However, Yuki Tsunoda represents the alternative route: a driver from a middle-class background who was picked up by a manufacturer program.

Cost of junior karting and feeder series

• Junior karting in Europe: $1–2 million per season – per industry estimates.
• FIA Formula 3: ~$1.5 million per season – reported by Motorsport.com.
• FIA Formula 2: ~$2–3 million per season – typical range.
• Total to reach F1: $8–15 million – confirmed by multiple driver pathway analyses.

Honda Formula Dream Project support

The Honda Formula Dream Project is a structured development program that identifies talented Japanese karters and funds their progression through single-seaters. Tsunoda joined in 2016. This support covered a significant portion of his costs, making it possible for him to reach F1 without wealthy parents – RacingNews365.

The implication is that Tsunoda’s path is an exception, not the norm, in a sport where family money still dominates.

Timeline signal

Clarity: What we know and what’s unclear

This balanced view reflects the limited verifiable information available about Tsunoda’s personal and financial life.

Quotes from the decision

“F1 is my life – I will give everything to get back onto the grid.”

Yuki Tsunoda, in response to his demotion – Formula1.com

“We delayed the announcement out of respect for Yuki. He deserved to have his final race with us without the distraction.”

Alan Permane, Racing Bulls boss – RacingNews365

“It’s pretty clear that Hadjar will take the Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen. Tsunoda will be left without a seat in the top team.”

Ralf Schumacher, former F1 driver – Motorsport.com

“Tsunoda could still end up as a Racing Bulls driver in 2026, a reserve for both teams, or be released entirely.”

The Race, analysing possible outcomes – The Race

These varied perspectives show the uncertainty surrounding Tsunoda’s future even within the Red Bull program.

Summary

Yuki Tsunoda’s demotion to a test and reserve role for 2026 marks a sobering moment for a driver who rose through the Honda-backed system to reach F1. While his career is far from over, the decision by Red Bull to promote Isack Hadjar and keep Tsunoda in a support role underscores the unforgiving economics of Formula 1’s talent pipeline. For Tsunoda, the coming years will determine whether he can force his way back onto the grid – or join the long list of drivers who proved competitive but not indispensable. For young racers from middle-class backgrounds without a manufacturer program, the lesson is clear: find a backer, or face an almost impossible climb.

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