Tsunoda linked to Meyer Shank IndyCar seat for 2027
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 18, 2026
Tsunoda and IndyCar
Yuki Tsunoda is in the mix for a 2027 IndyCar ride with Meyer Shank Racing, a possible move that would take the Japanese driver into a series he has watched from a distance but has not been chasing. Tsunoda remains tied to Honda, and that link keeps him connected to one of the clearest pathways into the seat market. He also has some first-hand exposure to IndyCar equipment, after getting a look at it in 2024 near Las Vegas. Even with that background, Tsunoda has been open about the gap between interest and intent. He said he would welcome the opportunity if the timing was right, but he is not actively aiming at IndyCar right now. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar’s longer, faster races still unsettle him, and that reaction helps explain why the conversation remains speculative for now. Tsunoda has been out of Formula 1 since Red Bull demoted him at the end of last season, then spent this year as Red Bull Racing’s test and reserve driver. Red Bull turned to rookie Isack Hadjar after Tsunoda posted seven points finishes in the RB21. The larger picture is clear. Tsunoda has 111 Grand Prix starts since making his Formula 1 debut in 2021, and he now sits in a career window where future options matter as much as current seat time.
Meyer Shank seat
The potential opening centers on Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 66 Honda entry, a seat that could become available if the team’s lineup shifts again. Marcus Armstrong currently drives the No. 66 car, but he is expected to move to Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 60 entry if Felix Rosenqvist leaves. That would open the No. 66 seat and put Tsunoda into the frame for a straight ride rather than a vague future link. The connection makes sense on paper because Meyer Shank runs Honda power and Tsunoda has remained a Honda-backed driver throughout his racing career. It is the kind of manufacturer tie that often shapes IndyCar discussions before a driver ever reaches the paddock. Armstrong’s possible move also shows how quickly one lineup decision can affect another. If Rosenqvist departs, Meyer Shank would have to solve two seats in one move, one to keep the No. 60 filled and another to decide who steps into the No. 66. Tsunoda’s name has surfaced in that larger chain of possibilities because he brings international experience, Honda support and a profile that gives the team another route to consider. The seat is still only a possibility, but the pieces around it are already in motion.
Honda and options
Meyer Shank Racing is not treating the driver market as a one-name search, and that matters because Tsunoda is one option among several. Mike Shank said the team is still evaluating multiple possibilities and has made no decision. That leaves the No. 66 discussion open and keeps every candidate in play. Tsunoda fits into that conversation because of his Honda background and his broader experience, but the team’s own stance shows no rush to settle the issue before it has to. For Tsunoda, the attraction is obvious. IndyCar would give him a fresh start after a difficult stretch in Formula 1, and a Honda-backed program would create familiar ties in a new series. The caution is just as clear. He has said the move would have to come at the right time, and he has not positioned himself as an active IndyCar seeker. That leaves the situation balanced between possibility and patience. Meyer Shank has a seat that could open if the rest of its lineup shifts. Tsunoda has the connection, the background and the interest level to stay on the team’s radar. The final call still depends on how the rest of the market moves, and on whether the timing lines up for both sides.
