Red Bull are charging into the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season with their driver lineup for 2026 under intense scrutiny.
The team have confirmed Verstappen will stay put, ending rumors of a move to Mercedes, but the question of his teammate remains wide open.
Liam Lawson, who kicked off the season in the second Red Bull seat, was replaced after just two races. Since returning to their sister team, Racing Bulls, Lawson has shown flashes of brilliance, reigniting interest in his potential.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who took over from Lawson, has struggled, managing only seven points in 12 races. This has raised doubts about his future with the team, especially as the 2026 regulation changes loom large.
Racing Bulls’ other driver, Isack Hadjar, has turned heads with a strong debut season, scoring 22 points despite a dramatic crash on the formation lap in Australia.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has praised Hadjar, saying he was “positively surprised” by the French-Algerian’s performances, per Kleine Zeitung. Hadjar is now a strong contender for promotion if Tsunoda’s form doesn’t improve over the remaining 10 races.
Another name in the mix is Arvid Lindblad, a rising star in Formula 2. Despite trailing the championship leader by 62 points, Lindblad has impressed in his debut season.
Marko told Kleine Zeitung, “Everything is right with him. We are fully on track, and he will drive for us several more times this year in TPC sessions.”
One rumor quickly shut down was the idea of IndyCar champion Alex Palou joining the team. When asked, Marko dismissed it outright, saying, “That’s not true,” according to Kleine Zeitung.
For the rest of 2025, Red Bull are focused on turning around a challenging season, with Verstappen reaching the podium just once in the last seven races.
Marko remained realistic about their goals, stating, “We want to be as much as possible at the front. Whether victories are possible is another question.”
The team’s next challenge is the Dutch Grand Prix, set for 72 laps around the 4.259-kilometer Zandvoort circuit on August 31.
With the constructors’ title slipping away to McLaren in 2024, Red Bull are eager to regain their edge and set the stage for a fierce 2026 campaign.
