Red Bull have to decide who will partner Max Verstappen in the 2026 Formula 1 season with Yuki Tsunoda having struggled for results and Isack Hadjar shining at Racing Bulls
Red Bull chief Laurent Mekies refused on several occasions to rule out the possibility of Yuki Tsunoda dropping off the Formula 1 grid. The Japanese driver is fighting for his future having scored only nine points since he was installed as team-mate to Max Verstappen.
That switch came two rounds into the season, Tsunoda promoted to replace Liam Lawson who was struggling. But despite having much more experience than the Kiwi, he has also failed to score anywhere near enough points to secure his place on the 2026 grid with Red Bull Racing.
Tsunoda did race for much of the season without the same spec car as Verstappen, but has shown progress in recent races. Since he replaced Christian Horner as team principal, Mekies has made sure their second driver has more up-to-date machinery and he has been able to get closer to the Dutchman as a result.
But the pressure on his shoulders remains high, only intensified further by the form of Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman has been very impressive in his debut season with junior squad Racing Bulls and even managed his first F1 podium last time out at Zandvoort.
It is understood Hadjar is the leading candidate to be Verstappen’s team-mate next year as a result. But Mekies insists that he is in no rush to decide his pairing for the 2026 campaign.
He said: « We have made no secret, we feel we have time to take a decision. We don’t think anything is pressing us. Obviously, we are looking with a great smile at Isack’s progress – I think he has been outstanding.
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« We are equally seeing Yuki being able to do a significant step forward in the last few races. We have all the cards on our side, so there is no need for us to rush. »
A promotion for Hadjar would not necessarily mean an F1 exit for Tsunoda as dropping him back down to Racing Bulls is an option. But it remains to be seen whether there would be space for him there, with Lawson likely to earn an extension and talented teenager Arvid Lindblad being prepared for promotion from Formula 2.
Mekies was asked twice if Tsunoda could return to Racing Bulls but, on both occasions, failed to give a direct answer. He replied: « We do not really have to take those decisions now. We have the luxury to be able to look at how our drivers are going to evolve in the next few races. We may not want to wait until the last race, fair enough, but we have the luxury to see how they are going to evolve.
« I have said, Isack has done a very good step forward and we will decide in a few weeks. I can only talk about Red Bull Racing, but I am confident that, for both teams, why would we make the decision now, one way or another? We have the cards and we give our drivers in both teams a few more races to show what they can show to us. »
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