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Not the start Yuki Tsunoda had in mind. Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, footage surfaced on social media showing the Japanese driver wandering alone through São Paulo airport after apparently being forgotten by Red Bull’s pickup crew. It’s a moment both humorous and uncomfortable, and one that reflects the growing tension surrounding Tsunoda’s uncertain future in Formula 1.
A lonely arrival in Brazil
The incident occurred just as the F1 paddock began arriving in São Paulo for the Sprint weekend at Interlagos. Fans spotted Tsunoda exiting the terminal, luggage in hand, only to find no Red Bull staff waiting for him. Videos quickly circulated online showing the 25-year-old looking confused, surrounded by shouting supporters as he waved off requests for selfies and videos.
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At one point, Tsunoda appeared to scroll through his phone, seemingly trying to contact the team while local taxi drivers called out to him from the arrivals area. Witnesses said he waited “a long time” before anyone arrived to collect him. It was an awkward scene for a driver already under pressure.
A difficult season for the Japanese driver
Tsunoda’s 2025 campaign has been disappointing. Promoted from Racing Bulls to the senior Red Bull Racing squad after the Japanese Grand Prix, he has struggled to match teammate Max Verstappen’s pace and adapt to the car’s demanding setup philosophy.
With four races left in the season, his future with the team looks increasingly uncertain. Sources in the paddock suggest that Red Bull is evaluating multiple options for 2026, including a potential return to the sister team or even parting ways altogether.
For Tsunoda, every session now doubles as an audition, a chance to prove that his raw speed and fiery personality still have a place in the top tier of the sport.
Social-media storm and déjà vu
Within hours, the airport videos had gone viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Reactions ranged from sympathy to sarcasm, with many fans calling it a metaphor for his season: “Tsunoda left waiting, again.” Others joked that “even Red Bull can’t pick him up anymore.”
It wasn’t the first travel mishap of his year either. Earlier in Las Vegas, he was reportedly held up by customs officials for an extended period, though that incident ended without issue. Still, the optics of being stranded again, this time in full public view, were hard to miss.
What it means for the weekend
Despite the awkward arrival, Tsunoda is expected to take part in Thursday’s media duties and Friday’s first practice session. Red Bull has not commented publicly on the mix-up, but team insiders dismissed it as a “simple logistical mistake.”
Yet in a sport where perception matters almost as much as performance, the episode feeds a larger narrative: Tsunoda is fighting not only to be noticed, but to be believed in. The man who once embodied Red Bull’s next-generation spirit now finds himself scrambling, sometimes literally, to stay part of the conversation.
As the Brazilian Grand Prix begins, all eyes will be on how he responds. For Yuki Tsunoda, a clean, competitive weekend could go a long way toward erasing an embarrassing arrival, and maybe proving that he’s still worth picking up.
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