Red Bull suggests that they will decide on the F1 2026 driver lineup by the end of the current season.
Max Verstappen is already committed to Red Bull next season, but there are questionable marks as to who will partner with the four-time world champions of the 2026 regulatory overhaul.
Red Bull has changed its second driver twice in the last 10 months, with Liam Lawson having only two races in the 2024 Sergio Perez replacement.
The Tsunoda is better than Lawson, but has struggled to adapt to Red Bull’s tricky RB21 cars and is comprehensively outperformed by Verstappen.
Given that he is closing his contract at the end of the year, uncertainty about Tsunoda’s future remains. His main supporter, Honda, has also ended his collaboration with Red Bull.
Red Bull is currently evaluating whether to promote impressive Racing Bull rookie Isak Hager, who grabbed the headlines at the Dutch Grand Prix by winning the stunning Maiden Podium in 2026.
Team principal Laurent Mekies, one of Zunodas’ closest supporters, has shown that Red Bull won’t wait until this season is finished to call out a driver plan.
“As much as I like the emotion of race-by-race emotions, there is a sense in Budapest. There is another feeling here,” Mekies said.
“The truth is, you’re backing down and looking at it from a Red Bull perspective, that’s our driver and we’re contracting them all.
“We only make decisions. We mean the Red Bull Group. Why are you under pressure based on the outcome? The simple truth is that we take the time.
“I’m not saying I’ll wait until the last race, because there are dynamics that you want to let the driver know, but there’s time.”
Tsunoda finished the seventh race by finishing ninth in Zandvoort, but Hajar’s exploit overturned the Japanese driver’s exploit when he joined Verstappen on the podium.
“In the beginning, we can do more at any time, we can do more.
“So he’s doing more and more.
“I think that’s still a positive trend for Yuki. I think it’s the first time he’s returned to the point after seven races.
“The Spa was a step forward. Budapest took it a step forward in terms of the gap with Max as we were poor as a team.
“Today he was a P9 and could have been a P8 or P7 despite the difficulty in assessing the pace.
“So I think we want him to continue to make progress, close the gap to Max and continue to score points because that’s the main parameter and what it’s ultimately what it is.”
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Since crashing from his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Hajar has bounced impressively and enjoys an outstanding rookie campaign with Red Bull’s sister team.
The 20-year-old Frenchman is better than Lawson, and he moved to 10th in the driver’s championship thanks to his incredible third place finish at Zandvoort.
It marked the latest eye-catching performance from Hajar, snatching his previous best career finish in sixth place from Monaco.
Helmut Marco praised Hajar, who appears to be a clear favorite to become Red Bull’s next F1 driver.
“We chose him, so we knew he had something special,” Marco told Sky Sports F1. “I called him the ‘Little Prost’ – the new – early on. People were laughing frequently, but now he has given birth.
“What’s also impressive is that if he comes to the new circuit after three laps, he’s competitive. On Friday, all the issues on the engine side weren’t affected.
“He said, ‘I know where the speed is, so I qualify for the top five.’ The promise is there. His confidence is outstanding. ”