Yuki Tsunoda spent 111 Grands Prix grinding through the Red Bull junior system, reached the top team, and promptly lost his seat to a teenager. Now he might be heading to America. Fair play to him, honestly.
The IndyCar Talks Are Real
Tsunoda is in negotiations with Meyer Shank Racing for a potential 2027 IndyCar campaign, targeting the #66 Honda entry. The seat is currently held by Marcus Armstrong, who is shifting across to the #60 car to cover the departure of defending Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist at season’s end. So the timing works, at least on paper.
MSR co-owner Mike Shank was characteristically non-committal about the whole thing.
“We have not decided anything yet. We are talking to everybody in every form of motorsports that are comparable or pertinent to IndyCar. We’re still vetting folks that are coming along, and looking at all kinds of options.” – Mike Shank
Translation: Tsunoda is on the list, but he is not the only name on the list. Classic team owner deflection, executed with textbook precision.
The Reserve Driver Reality
Let us be honest about where Tsunoda finds himself right now. He replaced Liam Lawson at Red Bull in 2025, could not fully convince the team, and was then displaced by Isack Hadjar, who currently sits eighth in the championship. Tsunoda stayed on as reserve driver, a role he will fulfil through to the end of this season. As cracks continue to show at Red Bull in 2026, there is no obvious path back to a race seat for the 26-year-old.
IndyCar, then, is not a consolation prize. It is a genuine alternative for a driver who still has plenty to offer.
He Has History With the Series
Tsunoda is not walking into this blind. In late 2024, ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he drove a Chip Ganassi Racing Honda entry and received coaching from six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. He completed around 30 minutes of running and was candid about the intimidation factor of oval racing at 200mph-plus. Refreshingly honest, given how much PR-polished nonsense usually comes out of these media appearances.
If the deal materialises, he would follow the path of compatriot Takuma Sato, who left F1 and went on to win the Indianapolis 500 twice. Not a bad template to follow.
The Honda Factor
One thing worth noting: Red Bull’s separation from Honda this season potentially loosens the contractual grip on what Tsunoda can do outside of F1. A Honda-powered IndyCar seat fits neatly into that narrative. Convenient, perhaps, but not surprising.
Nothing is signed. Nothing is certain. But for Tsunoda, the direction of travel looks increasingly clear.
