Red Bull gives Yuki Tsunoda until "around Mexico" to prove himself

Helmut Marko says Yuki Tsunoda has until around Mexico to prove he deserves the 2026 Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has established a clear timeline for Yuki Tsunoda to prove himself, confirming that the Japanese driver will have until "around Mexico" to demonstrate that he deserves a seat alongside Max Verstappen.

Speaking to ORF ahead of qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix, Marko outlined the criteria that will see him stay at the Milton Keynes outfit.

"He has to get closer to Max and deliver that level of performance consistently. That's why we've postponed the option dates further back, and now we'll look at the upcoming races and then a decision will be made."

When pressed further on the specific timeframe, Marko was more definite with his answer than he has been in the past.

"I would say around Mexico," the paddock stalwart said, giving Tsunoda approximately six races to secure his position at the team.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Sitting 18th in the drivers' standings, the former Racing Bulls driver has struggled this season, failing to score points over the last seven races. His best result came in Bahrain, where he finished ninth.

This has led fans of the championship to believe his days at Red Bull were numbered despite not serving a full season with the squad. But when Christian Horner left the team with former Racing Bulls chief Laurent Mekies taking on his role, this seemed to revitalise Tsunoda as he received a new floor at Spa, bringing his performance closer to that of his team-mate.

Sources suggest it was Mekies who pushed for the driver to receive the same-spec car as the reigning champion, signing off on the new floor at Spa-Francorchamps - a part that, under the previous regime, might have remained as Verstappen's spare. The new team principal is also understood to have urged Marko to hold fire on a call for 2026, with the parity of equipment giving the Japanese driver as much of a fair shot as possible, seemingly buying him time to make his case.

The upgrade resulted in the best qualifying performance yet from the driver, with a seventh-place start at the Belgian Grand Prix. In Hungary, despite starting the grand prix from the pitlane, he was within a tenth of Verstappen during practice sessions.

"The gap with Max continues to close," Tsunoda said at the time. "It may not feel like we are getting there, but on paper we are only one tenth off his pace."

Marko was asked about potential replacements for the second seat, but he was tight-lipped on his thoughts.

"We're looking at that as well, and once we decide, we'll make the complete driver line-up decision," he said before once again dismissing the rumours of a link to Alex Palou. "There have never been any talks with Palou," he ended.