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Yuki Tsunoda Invites 2027 F1 Comeback: ‘Call Me Now!’
Highlights
- Yuki Tsunoda returned to F1 at the Dutch Grand Prix.
- Filled in for Red Bull after Liam Lawson’s seat change.
- Had limited practice yet remained competitive in sprint and qualifying.
- Missed points by seconds but impressed with midfield battle.
- Expressed eagerness to secure a full-time 2027 F1 seat.
Yuki Tsunoda returned to Formula 1 at Zandvoort, deputising for Racing Bulls at the Dutch Grand Prix after Liam Lawson moved to Red Bull to cover injured rookie Isack Hadjar.
The call-up followed his 2025 exit from a full-time seat, leaving minimal recent mileage and only one practice to reacquaint with revised 2026 regulations and Racing Bulls’ operational processes.
Even so, Tsunoda reached a competitive baseline quickly, staying in the mix through the sprint and qualifying, and falling just short of Q3 and a top-10 finish on Sunday.
“Call me, please!” — Tsunoda signals readiness for a 2027 F1 seat
Race pace proved solid relative to the midfield. He finished only a few seconds behind Pierre Gasly, underlining how small execution margins determine whether a comeback drive converts into points.
Crucially, Tsunoda adapted to a car concept evolved since his last start, managing tyre preparation and energy deployment despite limited reference laps and the compressed Zandvoort schedule.
The package’s ceiling remains unchanged by his cameo, but the weekend was a live audit of execution. Braking traces, wind sensitivity, and balance corrections trended tidy for someone parachuted in.
Missed points by only a few seconds after a one-session preparation
Tsunoda framed the outing as proof of readiness, noting the limited preparation and immediate competitiveness, and describing the weekend as “overall positive” in both execution and speed.
He also pitched for 2027, adding: “They should. Call me, please!” The subtext is clear: a dependable plug‑in option who understands the operational detail of modern F1.
One race and a couple of sessions were enough to fight near the points
That message lands as several teams finalise their plans. His showing strengthens his candidacy in any reshuffle of 2027 driver line-ups, particularly for squads valuing adaptability and simulator correlation.
Equally, Tsunoda’s openness to alternatives remains pertinent, with interest linked to opportunities beyond F1, including potential IndyCar options if an immediate grand prix return stalls.
For Racing Bulls, the weekend validated processes as much as performance. A late substitution integrated cleanly, offering useful feedback on car behaviour and operational rhythm under sprint-pressure constraints.
Zandvoort, a circuit that punishes imprecision, is a sound benchmark. As auditions go, this was tidy, credible, and potentially decisive in shaping conversations about his next full-time opportunity.
Visual Summary
Tsunoda RETURNS 🚀 — Just shy of points at Zandvoort!
⏱️
Only 1 practice session
New regs, little time
🏁
Finished 11th, seconds from points
Just behind Gasly
📞
“Call me, please!”
2027 drive wanted
Gap to Points
Gasly
Tsunoda
“One race, a couple sessions, and I was able to fight near the points.”
— Yuki Tsunoda
— Yuki Tsunoda
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
