Yuki Tsunoda sends clear message over F1 future

Yuki Tsunoda is adamant that he wants to continue racing, ideally in F1, and does not want to go back to standing on the sidelines next year.

The Red Bull reserve driver is about to embark on his third round deputising for Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, with the New Zealander temporarily standing in for the injured Isack Hadjar at the Milton Keynes-based squad.

Having lost his seat at the end of last season, the 26-year-old is keen to pick up a full-time drive for 2027 after reacquiring the taste for it during his stand-in performances at Zandvoort and Monza.

Following that first round in the Netherlands, he joked that potential suitors in the F1 paddock should call him, but now insists he is leaving that side of the equation to his management.

"In terms of what happened in Monza, I think I left a positive impression by being in the points, so I leave those things to my manager," he told media, including RacingNews365, ahead of F1's first visit to the Madring.

"I just keep all focus on my performance, and it helps with those things."

What options are open to Tsunoda?

Tsunoda has engaged in talks outside the F1 paddock already, with a move to IndyCar one of the touted options open to him, but Formula 1 remains his priority.

"Obviously, my primary focus is Formula 1," he said. "If Red Bull gave me the opportunity to drive again within these four seats, that's amazing..."

Aside from Red Bull, due to his ties to Honda, there have been links with Aston Martin, but it remains to be seen if Fernando Alonso's seat will become available at the end of the campaign.

The two-time F1 drivers' champion is weighing up his future in motorsport, and with Lance Stroll looking settled at his father's team, there may be no room at the inn for Tsunoda, even if he were the chosen replacement.

Esteban Ocon is vulnerable at Haas, but Tsunoda is not believed to be in Ayao Komatsu's thinking, despite the fact that a Japanese driver may please technical partner Toyota.

Instead, Rafael Camara, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ryo Hirakawa and Jack Doohan are thought to comprise a five-driver shortlist including the incumbent.

In reality, the emergence of Nikola Tsolov and the performances of Lawson and Arvid Lindblad make Red Bull — or Racing Bulls — a slim prospect, and Tsunoda is not willing to spend another year watching on.

"I'm not thinking, really, of probably standing around in the garage next year; I don't want to [do that again]," he added.

"I want to race. Especially after these three races, I know I want to race these cars. So hopefully that's in Formula 1."