Red Bull’s driver dilemma deepens with season ending
In an analysis from Sky Sports F1 after the Mexico Grand Prix, the media states that four drivers remain in contention for the second seat at Red Bull Racing as well as the two seats at Racing Bulls for the 2026-season: Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Arvid Lindblad.
The team had previously hinted that Mexico City might mark a decision point, but that timeline has now shifted, as Red Bulls new team principal Laurent Mekies said after Sunday’s race that there was no need to rush with four races still to go this season.
That means the speculation continues about who will partner Verstappen next year and which drivers will occupy the Racing Bulls seats.
According to the Sky Sports F1 analysis, Hadjar’s strong rookie year has almost certainly earned him a place within the Red Bull setup, while the 18-year-old Lindblad is being tipped to make the leap from Formula 2.
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This leaves Tsunoda and Lawson as possible rivals for the final open seat, although Mekies insists that no final decision has been made and that all drivers are still being evaluated.
Tsunoda fights back
After replacing Lawson early in the season, Tsunoda appeared to be running out of chances during a rough stretch that saw him fail to score points in seven straight races. But recent improvements, including three top-10 finishes in the last six rounds, have kept his hopes alive, for the Red-Bull seat.
Mekies, who previously worked with Tsunoda at Racing Bulls, said the Japanese driver’s form was encouraging. “Yuki had his best weekend in a long time,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s one of the reasons why we wanted to take a bit more time before we make a decision. Yuki is making steps forward.”
However, 1997 world champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit Jacques Villeneuve disagreed, arguing that Tsunoda’s performance still fell short. He points towards his youth and that he is still very far off his team-mate. He points towards Mexico being his least bad weekend, but it wasn’t a good one still.
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Hadjar’s learning curve
Hadjar’s breakout year included a maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, fueling expectations that he would join Verstappen in 2026. Yet his results before and after that high point have been more modest, with only two other top-10 finishes across five races.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle cautioned against promoting the 20-year-old too soon. Brundle pointed towards the big dramatic changes coming next year with the power units and chassis. As a driver, you want experience and knowledge to get a position in Red-Bull, so Hadjar needs another year, according to Brundle.
Despite this, Hadjar’s talent and composure have made him a serious contender, and many within the Red Bull camp reportedly see him as Verstappen’s long-term teammate.
Lindblad impresses in practice
Arvid Lindblad has had a low-profile debut season in Formula 2 but caught attention during practice in Mexico, finishing sixth overall and outpacing Tsunoda in the sister Red Bull car. Mekies and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko both praised the teenager’s maturity and technical feedback.
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They achknowledged that he was the fastest rookie and gave all the right feedback. The team seems overly happy with how he handles pressure. But same with Hardjar, he is a young driver, and questions remains, whether he has the experience to get a seat in F1 for one of the biggest teams on the grid.
Brundle believes Lindblad could earn a Racing Bulls seat but warned that a direct jump to Red Bull might be too soon. “It’s a gamble, but they’ve taken them before with Verstappen and Vettel,” he noted.
Strategy behind the delay
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane offered insight into the delay, suggesting the uncertainty was helping both teams stay focused. Both teams are in a tight Constructors’ battle, so by postponing not talking about drivers for next year is helping that stability and forces the teams to stay focused on the current season.
Red Bull currently trails Ferrari and Mercedes in the fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, while Racing Bulls are trying to defend sixth. Keeping all drivers motivated until the final race could be crucial.
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Mekies, meanwhile, is in no rush to end the suspense with a fairly cocky response. “We accept that everyone would like us to decide,” he said. “We will take all the time we need and give these guys every chance to prove themselves.”
Sources: Sky Sports F1, Formula1.com
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