Yuki Tsunoda is trying to find his way back onto the Formula 1 grid for 2027 and doesn’t seem to be keen on IndyCar.

It emerged in August that Tsunoda was speaking to Meyer Shank Racing about a potential seat, having been demoted to a reserve driver role at Red Bull.

It was subsequently reported, by outlets including RACER, that Tsunoda was in line to take part in the IndyCar evaluation test on 26 October, but that never materialised.

Koji Watanabe provides update on Yuki Tsunoda after Meyer Shank Racing talks

Honda president Koji Watanabe was asked about Tsunoda’s IndyCar talks during the US Grand Prix weekend.

Tsunoda is a graduate of the Honda academy and remains linked to the manufacturer, even if Watanabe says he’s free to make his own career choices.

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“Since Tsunoda is already an independent professional racing driver, we understand that this was not something we were involved in, and that negotiations took place between Tsunoda’s team and Meyer Shank Racing,” he told Autosport Web. “Therefore, we only heard about the cancellation of the test later.”

Tsunoda returned to an F1 cockpit in August when Isack Hadjar’s injury saw Liam Lawson called up to Red Bull. He was immediately competitive in Lawson’s Racing Bulls car, scoring a point at Monza, and urged F1 teams with a vacancy to ‘call him’.

“I met with Yuki in the paddock yesterday [23rd October] and spoke with him for a while,” said Watanabe. “I told him, ‘You should do what you want to do. It would be best if you could stay in F1, but if that doesn’t happen, we can talk again then.'”

Tsunoda has been linked with Cadillac in recent days amid fresh doubts over Valtteri Bottas’ future at the team. The Japanese star’s representatives are in touch, though he faces competition from reserve driver Colton Herta.

This is Tsunoda’s only realistic opportunity to race in F1 full-time next year, with most other seats filled. Herta’s nationality is an advantage because Cadillac are keen to field an American, but he has struggled in Formula 2.

If he can’t get back onto the grid in 2027, it’s hard to see Tsunoda returning to the championship at all. Meyer Shank Racing have filled their seats for now, but he may revisit the IndyCar option for 2028 if necessary.