Alex Albon issues Yuki Tsunoda defence after Red Bull axe

Alex Albon has expressed sympathy for Yuki Tsunoda following the Japanese driver's demotion to a reserve driver role for 2026.

Red Bull opted to replace Tsunoda for next year's campaign following a challenging season alongside Max Verstappen, during which he consistently struggled for form.

Isack Hadjar will take over the second seat while Tsunoda will carry out third driver duties for Red Bull and its sister Racing Bulls squad.

Albon is familiar with such a situation, having lost his drive at Red Bull at the end of 2020 before using his 2021 reserve duties to springboard himself into a Williams drive for the 2022 campaign.

The Thai driver has expressed hope that Tsunoda will return to a full-time drive in the near future.

“I'm sad for Yuki,” Albon told media including RacingNew365. “I think Yuki is an extremely talented driver.

“Personally, I think he deserves a place in F1. 

“He's a reserve driver as of now, I hope he can find a way to make an impact with the team that's in a very similar place to where I was in 2021.”

Red Bull is no stranger to making cutthroat decisions regarding its driver line-up across its two teams.

Albon highlighted Tsunoda must stay on guard to jump back behind the wheel if any of the full-time drivers struggle for pace.

“There's still an opportunity,” he said. “There's still how does Arvid [Lindblad] perform? And how does Liam [Lawson] perform in that area?

“That's why they put him, where they put him [in a reserve role]. 

“I guess I'm very biased towards the fellow Asians in the paddock.

“But I hope he can, he's got the talent, and I hope to see him back.”