Red Bull F1 chief Helmut Marko reveals deadline for driver decision

Red Bull

Marko reveals deadline for Red Bull driver decision

The second F1 seat at Red Bull is up for grabs

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 3 September 2025 20:30

Red Bull F1 chief Helmut Marko has revealed when a decision will be made on the team's second driver for 2026.

Isack Hadjar’s podium at the Dutch Grand Prix has only heightened speculation that he will drive for Red Bull alongside Verstappen in 2026, especially due to current driver Yuki Tsunoda’s miserable season.

While Hadjar stood alongside Verstappen on the podium at Zandvoort, Tsunoda was all the way down in a disappointing ninth, and faced with the irony that this was his best finish since the Bahrain GP back in April.

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Speaking to oe24, Marko was asked whether Hadjar was ready for the promotion to Red Bull next season, to which the 82-year-old provided the date they will reach a decision.

"Let's see. We have until October to make that decision," he said.

Will Hadjar compete for Red Bull?

Hadjar’s performance at the Dutch GP was a display of maturity for the young driver, who had the pace to qualify fourth and hold onto the position for the entirety of Sunday's race.

The French driver fended off the likes of George Russell and Charles Leclerc without making any rookie errors, while also possessing the patience to not chase after Verstappen for a podium finish.

Ultimately, Lando Norris’ engine failure gifted him his first F1 podium, but the achievement only highlighted a mindset and ability that had gone under the radar for the majority of the 2025 season.

The ability to perform free from scrutiny has been a blessing for Hadjar, alleviating the pressure his rookie counterparts, such as Kimi Antonelli, have been subjected to at bigger teams.

There is no guarantee, however, that this pressure will not trigger the same downwards spiral Tsunoda has experienced, should Hadjar be promoted to Red Bull.

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