Yuki Tsunoda delivered a determined drive for Racing Bulls at Zandvoort, narrowly missing points in P11 after stepping in for an injured Liam Lawson. The 26-year-old had been sidelined as a test and reserve driver following his exit from Red Bull after a difficult 2025 season. His performance has raised questions about whether it was enough to secure a permanent seat for 2025.
The Japanese driver joins a long line of F1 stand-ins who turned temporary roles into lasting opportunities. Nico Hulkenberg impressed as a substitute for Racing Point in 2020, earning a reserve role and later a full-time seat at Haas. His stand-in performances, including a seventh-place finish at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, kept him in the paddock’s spotlight.
Carlos Sainz’s 2024 comeback after appendicitis surgery underscores the impact of a single standout race. A second-place grid in Australia led to his third career victory, reigniting his market value and landing him a 2025 seat at Williams. Tsunoda will hope his Zandvoort showing can similarly shift his fortunes.
