Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has not ruled out instigating an approach to Yuki Tsunoda over a deal to race for the team from the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Tsunoda will spend the upcoming campaign situated on the sidelines as Red Bull’s reserve driver, having lost his seat with the team at the end of 2025.
The Japanese driver received a coveted promotion to Red Bull’s senior squad three races into last season, but he struggled alongside Max Verstappen.
That culminated in him scoring a mere 30 points in 22 rounds, prompting Red Bull’s choice to replace him with Isack Hadjar going into the new season.
Tsunoda has remained in the Red Bull setup, though, as he strives to replicate Alex Albon and ensure the setback doesn’t mark an end to his time in F1.
Haas held an interest in Tsunoda in 2024 before Red Bull tied him down, with the American outfit instead acquiring Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.
But with Bearman backed to return to Ferrari should a spot open up there and Ocon’s deal up for renewal, Tsunoda could emerge on Haas’ radar again.
Asked whether he would be interested in Tsunoda, Komatsu told media including Motorsport Week: “I can’t comment on his future. Obviously he’s not our driver.
“2027? I think we have to focus on ’26 with our drivers and with brand-new regulations.
“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.
“That’s why the driver market is going to be so open for ’27.
“So to put ourselves in a better position, our best position, the important thing is we’ve got to have a competitive ’26 season. That’s our focus.”
Tsunoda’s long-standing ties to Honda have been billed as a potential obstacle to a deal, with rival Japanese marque Toyota having a partnership in place with Haas.
However, speaking last July, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) President Koji Watanabe suggested that it would not be a problem should Haas want to sign Tsunoda.
When asked whether Haas’ alliance with a direct competitor in Toyota could be a hurdle to a possible deal, Watanabe said: “No problem. They are not Team Toyota.”
READ MORE – Yuki Tsunoda heard rumour that could’ve altered Red Bull fate
Discussion about this post