Red Bull F1 star in FIA media summons at Mexican GP as 2026 decision looms

Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen, in front of an FIA flag — Photo: © IMAGO

Mexican Grand Prix

Red Bull star in FIA media summons at Mexican GP as 2026 decision looms

This weekend marks the Mexican GP and a supposed deadline for a major Red Bull decision

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Thursday 23 October 2025 17:55

F1's governing body have summoned Red Bull star Yuki Tsunoda to face the media at the official FIA press conference ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old has just five rounds left in the 2025 campaign to prove he deserves to retain his Red Bull seat for next season, but after hearing from Helmut Marko at last weekend's US GP, it seems the decision deadline will come much sooner.

Tsunoda has picked up 16 points across the past three race weekends, with eight of those secured in Austin, but following the Japanese racer's relatively positive weekend, Marko confirmed a decision would be made about his future after the Mexican GP.

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As a result, the topic of who will be Max Verstappen's team-mate next season will be brought up frequently in this week's FIA press conference, with Tsunoda facing the questions alongside Liam Lawson, who briefly held the second seat at the start of this year.

Both the Red Bull and Racing Bulls drivers have been summoned for the Mexican GP press conference alongside championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will also face questions about Verstappen and whether his title lead is at risk after an imperious weekend at COTA last time out for the reigning champion.

Drivers are chosen at random for Thursday's FIA press conferences, with the trio of Piastri, Tsunoda and Lawson summoned for the first media session of the weekend, before Nico Hulkenberg, Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz take to the sofa later in the day.

On Friday, Fred Vasseur, Ayao Komatsu and Jonathan Wheatley will field questions from the media in the team principals press conference, with the lineup for Saturday and Sunday's sessions to be determined by the top three drivers in qualifying and the first three drivers to finish the grand prix.