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Red Bull F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda is rumored to be in contention for the second seat at Dale Coyne Racing for the 2026 IndyCar season. The Japanese driver was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull after two races in the 2025 F1 season.However, like his predecessors, Tsunoda has failed to break the 'second seat curse' at the senior team. He has scored only 25 points in 19 race weekends, while Max Verstappen has scored 285 in the same period, and pulled himself back into contention for the drivers' championship.The Japanese driver's seat at Red Bull is under threat, with reports claiming that Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar will replace him in 2026. While an official confirmation is awaited from the Laurent Mekies-led team, IndyCar reported Tony Donohue has shared he's heard rumors about Yuki Tsunoda being in contention for a ride with Dale Coyne Racing for next year."There has been rumors of Yuki Tsunoda possibly being inside of that No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing with Honda backing, obviously, for the 2026 season," Donohue said on the 'Unverified' podcast on YouTube. "I think we'll find out next week if I'm not mistaken, and I don't belive he'll be back in his F1 seat. But that is certainly a rumor."Honda has been a longtime backer of Tsunoda in F1. The Japanese manufacturer is also one of two engine manufacturers in IndyCar, and DCR uses its engines."I had heard it and more so kind of, it was brought back up to me yesterday by somebody, who I feel like if it came across their desk, it would be something that has been discussed," Donohue added. "Obviously, nothing is official, but I think Yuki Tsunoda is certainly in the fold to land the second seat at Dale Coyne Racing." Donohue shared that he first heard the rumor in mid-September before its recent resurrection. Until a couple of weeks ago, former F1 driver Romain Grosjean was understood to be the favorite to occupy the second seat at Dale Coyne Racing. If Tsunoda were to edge out his former F1 competitor for the seat, he would race alongside Dennis Hauger, whom DCR signed in September, and, coincidentally, was part of Red Bull's driver development program before his move to America.In November 2024, Yuki Tsunoda tested Chip Ganassi Racing's Honda-powered Indy car at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon guided the Japanese driver before his first taste of the machinery.Remaining pieces of IndyCar's 2026 driver puzzle and Red Bull's delaying of Yuki Tsunoda decisionMax Verstappen, Laurent Mekies, and Yuki Tsunoda at the F1 Italian Grand Prix - Source: GettyRed Bull has delayed the decision on its 2026 driver lineup until the end of the season. During the recent Mexico GP weekend, team advisor Helmut Marko broke the news to the media, saying (via Express):"We postponed our decision until the end of the season, because first we want to focus on the championship fight."Red Bull CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies echoed the same stance. When asked if the decision on Yuki Tsunoda's seat could spill over into the offseason after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7, the Frenchman replied:"No, it will be before."If Yuki Tsunoda were to race in IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing, in an ideal situation, he would be the penultimate piece of the puzzle. AJ Foyt Racing has the other vacant seat. While that is expected to go to 2025 Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet, an official announcement is awaited.Barring these two seats that are confirmed to be vacant, there are two more seats under question. At Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Devlin DeFrancesco's seat is in question, with former F1 driver Mick Schumacher, who recently tested with RLL, being his potential replacement.The other is Sting Ray Robb's seat at Juncos Hollinger Racing. Though he has confirmed that he has a multi-year contract that extends into 2026, JHR didn't name him as part of its lineup when it announced the signing of Rinus Veekay. The team named Veekay as the 'lead driver' of its "refreshed driver line-up" without naming Robb in its press release.
