Copyright sportskeeda
Yuki Tsunoda’s arrival in São Paulo for the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn this week when the Japanese Formula 1 driver was spotted wandering through the airport’s arrivals hall with no team representatives in sight.A fan captured the awkward moment, which was quickly circulated across social media, sparking criticism toward Red Bull’s travel management.The caption of the video, first posted by an F1 fan on X, read:“Yuki Tsunoda arrived in Brazil. According to @mateusurcezino, Yuki was completely lost because no one was waiting for him. He stayed in the lobby for a while.”The clip showed Yuki Tsunoda scanning the line of cardholders in the arrivals lounge, looking confused before stepping aside to make a call. Fans noted that he appeared to wait for some time before moving to the São Paulo airport lounge.Tsunoda has shown flashes of promise since his early-season seat swap with Liam Lawson. After a difficult adaptation phase to the RB21, his recent performances have reflected progress. In Mexico, he narrowly missed out on points but earned public praise from team principal Laurent Mekies, who said that a slow pit stop cost him.Tsunoda, who has two points finishes in four starts at the track, including a career-best P7 last year, prepares for his fifth appearance at Interlagos. The Brazilian GP is the first of the final four races this season; others are in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.F1 insiders weigh in as Yuki Tsunoda’s 2026 future hangs in the balanceTsunoda of Oracle Red Bull Racing ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan. Source: GettyThe São Paulo airport mishap might have been trivial, but Yuki Tsunoda’s position at Red Bull is not. The team has yet to finalize its 2026 driver lineup as speculation continues around whether he will retain his seat. Current projections point toward a pairing of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in the senior team, after the latter's strong rookie season.F2 standout Arvid Lindblad has been linked with Racing Bulls, leaving only one realistic slot open between Tsunoda and Liam Lawson. Both drivers have endured underwhelming seasons, and team boss Laurent Mekies has confirmed that a final decision will come before the Abu Dhabi finale.Tsunoda, meanwhile, has rarely come close to matching Verstappen’s pace, save for isolated flashes such as his strong first stint in Mexico. In qualifying and race trim alike, the gulf remains significant. With only four races left to prove his worth, his future at Red Bull will depend on whether he can close that competitive gap before the season’s end.
