Haas F1 Team Leaves Door Open for Yuki Tsunoda in 2027 Driver Shuffle
Haas F1 Team principal Ayao Komatsu has not dismissed the possibility of pursuing Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver, Yuki Tsunoda, for the 2027 Formula 1 season. This comes after Tsunoda was relegated to a reserve role at the end of 2025 following a season alongside Max verstappen, and subsequently replaced by Isack Hadjar for the 2026 season.
Tsunoda demonstrated flashes of potential during his time with Red Bull, securing points in seven of his 22 races, with a best finish of sixth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after stepping in for Liam Lawson at his home race in Suzuka. However, his performance wasn’t enough to retain a full-time seat, leading to a demotion that the Japanese driver himself described as deeply frustrating.
The driver market is poised for notable movement ahead of the 2027 season, largely due to the introduction of new regulations in 2026.”I think most of the drivers knew that, obviously, as they wanted to see how ’26 pans out and they wanted to pick a better team for ’27,” Komatsu explained to PlanetF1.com and other media. “That’s why the driver market is going to be so open for ’27.”
Currently, Haas has secured it’s driver lineup for 2025 and at least through 2026 with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, who finished the 2025 season separated by a mere three points in the drivers’ standings. Komatsu emphasized that the team’s primary focus is on maximizing its performance in 2026 to position itself attractively for potential driver signings in 2027. “To put ourselves in a better position, our best position, the crucial thing is we’ve got to have a competitive ’26 season. that’s our focus,” he stated.
However, a potential complication lies in Haas’s recent technical partnership with Toyota. The team, now officially renamed TGR [Toyota Gazoo Racing] Haas F1 Team for the 2026 season, has forged a strong relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, a direct competitor to Honda – Tsunoda’s long-term backer. Tsunoda had previously been linked with a move to Aston Martin, which has a technical partnership with Honda, but that chance did not materialize with jak Crawford ultimately securing a role with the team.
Speaking after the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi,Tsunoda expressed his disappointment with Red Bull’s decision,admitting he was “disappointed and p*ssed off.” He also revealed that his existing contract limited his ability to explore other options. “I didn’t have options. My contract was there [Red Bull] so I couldn’t do much,” he said. “I had a couple of interests externally, but my contract doesn’t really allow me to talk a lot with them.”
Despite these hurdles, Komatsu remains open to the possibility of working with Tsunoda in the future. “I can’t comment on his future. Obviously he’s not
Here’s a breakdown of how the questions are answered within the edited article:
* Why: The article explains that Haas is considering Tsunoda for 2027 due to the open driver market caused by the 2026 regulation changes
