Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda is the Japanese driver with the most Formula 1 starts of this era. Born in Sagamihara in 2000 and raised in Honda's junior programme, he finished third in the 2020 Formula 2 championship in his only year in the category, and in 2021 he made his debut with AlphaTauri by scoring on his first outing, ninth in Bahrain. That same year, in Abu Dhabi, he set what is still his best result: fourth.

He spent four seasons at Red Bull's second team, renamed RB in 2024. They were years of scattered points and of team radio that became famous for its bluntness, while team-mates such as Pierre Gasly, Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson came and went beside him. His best championship was 2024, in twelfth.

In 2025 the promotion to Red Bull finally came, and in the most symbolic place possible: his first race with the senior team was at home, at Suzuka. He started 2026 there, but midway through the season, at Zandvoort, he went back to Racing Bulls.

More than a hundred Grands Prix and still no podium. Few drivers have stood at the door of Red Bull's senior team for so long without it ever closing completely.