Will Buxton invites Yuki Tsunoda to IndyCar after Red Bull axe

IndyCar commentator Will Buxton has invited Yuki Tsunoda to join the premier American open-wheel racing series after Red Bull demoted him in F1. On Tuesday, Red Bull announced it would replace the Japanese driver with Isack Hadjar, who had a phenomenal rookie season in 2025 with junior team Racing Bulls.

F2 prodigy Arvid Lindblad will replace Hadjar at Racing Bulls, while Liam Lawson will retain his seat at the team. However, Yuki Tsunoda isn't entirely banished from the organization and will remain with Red Bull as an F1 test and reserve driver in 2026.

Shortly after the announcement, Will Buxton, who left F1 broadcasting for IndyCar in 2025, urged Tsunoda to follow suit. He reminded the Japanese driver of the joy he felt after his special IndyCar test/showrun last year, which was aided by Honda.

"Come back Stateside Yuki, get your butt back in an Indycar, and have as much fun as you did in your test, every weekend. @yukitsunoda07 @HondaRacingGLB," Buxton wrote in an X post.

Tsunoda tested a Honda-powered Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara DW12 car at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway ahead of F1's Las Vegas GP last year. He had CGR driver Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, coach him through his run. The event was part of the celebration of Honda’s 'Hybrid Heroes', and he drove for roughly half an hour combined across two stints.

Yuki Tsunoda's stance on potential IndyCar switch and Indy 500 racing

Yuki Tsunoda gives an interview at the F1 Qatar Grand Prix - Source: Getty

Yuki Tsunoda had spoken about a potential switch to IndyCar and racing in the Indy 500 after his test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The then-Racing Bulls driver emphasized that he'd be more than happy to grab the right IndyCar opportunity, but was unsure about competing in the 500.

He said (via Autosport):

"If I have opportunity and I feel it’s the right time, for sure I would love to. I like the US itself, so I don’t mind living here as well. But I feel like it's not the time because I can’t imagine I am driving at [Indianapolis Motor Speedway], more than a two-hour race, and we do more than 200 mph or whatever every lap."

"For me, it’s scary. I can’t imagine myself driving more than two hours and being in that car. I don’t know. For now, I [am not] really aiming or thinking about IndyCar, but yeah, why not in the future?" the Japanese driver added.

Last month, reporter Tony Donohue divulged that he'd heard rumors about Yuki Tsunoda being linked to a seat with Dale Coyne Racing. DCR has signed 2025 Indy NXT champion and former Red Bull talent Dennis Hauger to fill one seat, but the team has yet to finalize its second driver.