Yuki Tsunoda may be close to an important career change after his time in Formula 1. According to Motorsport.com, the Japanese driver is reportedly negotiating a spot with Meyer Shank Racing to compete in the 2027 IndyCar season.
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The 26-year-old driver has accumulated 111 F1 GPs since his debut in 2021 and currently serves as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. With F1 grid spots becoming increasingly competitive, the North American series emerges as a concrete possibility for the next stage of his career.
According to the information, Tsunoda is one of the candidates for the #66 car of Meyer Shank Racing, equipped with a Honda engine. The spot will become available after Marcus Armstrong is moved to the #60 car, a move motivated by Felix Rosenqvist’s departure at the end of the season.
The Japanese driver has already had contact with an Indy car during a Honda promotional event at the end of 2024, before the Las Vegas GP. On that occasion, he drove a car prepared by Chip Ganassi Racing and received guidance from the six-time series champion Scott Dixon, completing about thirty minutes of testing on a circuit approximately 2.1 kilometers long.
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At the time, Tsunoda said he found the possibility of racing and living in the USA quite interesting, although he showed respect for the challenges of oval racing: “If I have an opportunity and feel it is the right moment, I would definitely love it. I like the United States, so I wouldn’t mind living here either,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the Indy 500 still seemed intimidating: “I can’t imagine driving for more than two hours at over 350 km/h every lap. For me, that’s scary,” he said at the time.
The co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing, Mike Shank, has not confirmed an agreement yet: “We haven’t decided anything yet. We are talking to everyone in different motorsport categories that make sense for Indy. We are still evaluating candidates and considering all options,” he concluded.
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