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Table of Contents
- 1. Red Bull Racing Navigates Tricky Driver Choices for 2026 F1 Season
- 2. The Contenders Emerge
- 3. Tsunoda’s Performance Under the Microscope
- 4. Hadjar and Lawson’s Credentials
- 5. What strategic options did Red Bull racing consider beyond removing christian Horner, and why were those options ultimately less favored?
- 6. The Fallout of Red Bull’s F1 Driver Controversy: Navigating Their Strategic Crossroads
- 7. The Immediate Aftermath & Horner’s Position
- 8. The Dietrich Mateschitz Legacy & Red Bull’s Ownership Structure
- 9. Strategic options: From Team Sale to restructuring
- 10. The Niki Lauda Effect: Lessons from Past F1 Crises
- 11. The Verstappen Factor & Driver Market Implications
The Red Bull Racing team is currently weighing its options for the 2026 Formula One season, facing a surprisingly uninspiring selection process as it seeks a teammate for reigning champion Max Verstappen.While team principals frequently enough characterize multiple strong candidates as a “good problem to have,” sources indicate this situation at Red Bull falls short of that description, lacking exceptionally compelling choices.
The Contenders Emerge
With a decision expected around the Mexico Grand Prix in late October, paddock speculation points towards Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar as a frontrunner for a promotion. Reports from German publication auto motor und sport, corroborated by Motorsport.com sources, suggest Hadjar has impressed team leadership during his rookie season. This assessment aligns with information shared within Verstappen’s camp, as reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
However, the path isn’t straightforward. Red Bull currently has four drivers vying for three available seats: Verstappen, Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, and liam Lawson.the team is also considering the potential of promoting Formula 2 prospect arvid Lindblad.
Tsunoda’s Performance Under the Microscope
Yuki Tsunoda’s performance has come under intense scrutiny. Despite a recent uptick in form following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – lifting him from 19th place in the standings – Tsunoda has largely underdelivered since his promotion. For several weeks, the Japanese driver was positioned ahead of only the Alpine drivers, Jack Doohan and franco Colapinto, who remain the only drivers to have secured a single point this season.
Did You no? In the 2024 season, Alpine experienced significant challenges, initially failing to score points in several races, highlighting the competitive intensity of Formula 1.
Hadjar and Lawson’s Credentials
In contrast, Isack Hadjar secured a podium finish with Racing Bulls, a feat neither Tsunoda nor Liam Lawson achieved with the senior team. Lawson, in particular, demonstrated strong performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, qualifying third and finishing fifth, raising questions about his potential future within the Red Bull organization.
Here’s a quick comparison of recent driver performances: