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Red Bull ‘decide’ 2026 lineup as team confirm Monza driver change
Red Bull’s driver situation for 2026 appears to be reaching its conclusion, with growing indications that the team has already settled on its lineup. Following confirmation that Max Verstappen will continue with the team into the new regulations, the focus has firmly shifted to who will partner the Dutchman, and reports now suggest the decision has effectively been made.
Current teammate Yuki Tsunoda is approaching the end of his contract in 2025, but his performances this season have failed to convince the Red Bull hierarchy that he is the right long-term choice. Tsunoda scored valuable points at the Dutch Grand Prix, but his overall tally stands at only nine points from 13 rounds. The Japanese driver has not maximised the machinery available to him, especially considering Red Bull’s lofty expectations.
Tsunoda was promoted into the senior Red Bull team earlier this year after Liam Lawson was dropped following a brief and unsuccessful stint. Lawson managed only two races before being replaced, struggling to cope with the pressure of driving for the world champions. Since returning to Racing Bulls, however, the New Zealander has rebuilt his reputation, outscoring Tsunoda despite driving for the junior squad. This resurgence has led some to question whether Red Bull acted too quickly in ending his senior team run.
The real breakthrough story of 2025 has come from Isack Hadjar, who has made a remarkable impression in his rookie campaign. The French-Algerian racer stunned at Zandvoort, qualifying fourth and driving brilliantly to secure his first Formula 1 podium. That result has placed him at the front of the queue to partner Verstappen in 2026, with influential voices in the paddock already convinced that his promotion is inevitable.
Among them is 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who praised Hadjar’s rapid progress and resilience. Speaking on Sky Sports, Villeneuve said: “He seems to thrive under pressure, and he’s still so young. He climbed the junior ranks quickly, and each time he faces setbacks, he bounces back stronger. He looks like the complete package, and I believe he’ll be in the senior car next year—it’s only a matter of when Red Bull chooses to announce it.”
The second Red Bull seat has become a revolving door in recent years, with Sergio Pérez, Lawson, and now Tsunoda all failing to establish themselves as Verstappen’s long-term teammate. Pérez’s inconsistent form saw him dropped at the end of 2024, but the Mexican has since secured a fresh opportunity with Cadillac, who will enter Formula 1 in 2026. Lawson, meanwhile, has impressed enough at Racing Bulls to repair his reputation but is not expected to be considered for a return to the main team.
Hadjar’s likely promotion creates further intrigue at Racing Bulls. If the rookie graduates to Red Bull, the junior team will need to fill a significant gap in its lineup. Young prospect Arvid Lindblad is already being touted as the leading candidate, given his strong reputation within Red Bull’s junior ranks. Another possibility is that Tsunoda could be moved back to Racing Bulls, though such a move would be seen as a regression after spending four full years at the squad before this season.
With Verstappen secured and Hadjar heavily favoured, the picture for Red Bull’s 2026 driver roster looks clearer than ever. While the official announcement has yet to arrive, momentum is building around Hadjar’s elevation, leaving Tsunoda’s future uncertain and Lawson likely to continue developing outside of Red Bull’s main squad.
As the Formula 1 season heads into Monza, Red Bull appears ready to close the chapter on another turbulent period of driver shuffling. The signs point strongly toward a Verstappen–Hadjar partnership for 2026, a combination that could carry the team into the next era of the sport with a balance of proven dominance and youthful promise.
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