Red Bull F1 seat up for grabs and drivers have three grands prix to claim it

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Formula 1

Red Bull F1 seat up for grabs and drivers have three grands prix to claim it

Max Verstappen's 2026 team-mate is yet to be chosen

Chris Deeley

Sunday 2 November 2025 13:05 Updated: 13:43

With Red Bull one of only three teams yet to confirm their driver lineup for 2026, time is running out for the potential candidates to impress.

Team principal Laurent Mekies has now confirmed that Red Bull will be making the decision on their 2026 driver lineup before the season finale in Abu Dhabi, which will also determine how their junior team, Racing Bulls, shapes up next year.

The seat opposite Max Verstappen has been something of a poisoned chalice in recent years, with Sergio Perez finishing 285 points behind the Dutchman last season before his entirely predictable exit.

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Liam Lawson stepped in for Perez to start 2025, but lasted just two disastrous race weekends before being replaced with long-time junior team driver Yuki Tsunoda.

However, that has not proved a fix either, with Tsunoda's performances having also been put under the microscope over the course of the year.

Mekies confirms Red Bull decision before end of season

The team had hinted that they would make their decision for 2026 after the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, but Mekies has now pledged to give his drivers as many chances as possible to impress.

“We will take all the time we need," Mekies explained. "Give these guys as many chances as they can have to demonstrate on track who was the best.”

Asked if that meant the team could end the season in Abu Dhabi without knowing their driver lineup for next year, he said: “No, it will be before.”

Is Yuki Tsunoda hitting form?

Tsunoda has had something of a resurgence since his awful summer, scoring points at three of the last three grands prix and closing the pace gap to his team-mate.

Mekies admitted as much after the Mexican Grand Prix, saying: “I think Yuki had his best weekend in a long time. We have said that a few times, but it is true. He was very, very close in Quali to Max [Verstappen]. I think it was two-tenths in Q2.

“Yuki is making steps forward, the other kids are making steps forward as well, so we have no reason to rush a decision, so we will take a bit more time.”

Another question for the Red Bull organisation to answer is whether Tsunoda is demoted back down to Racing Bulls in the event of him losing his seat, or whether he's jettisoned entirely in favour of bringing in a new face.

Linblad to Racing Bulls?

Arvid Lindblad is the driver in the frame for a vacant Racing Bulls seat, with Mekies saying after an FP1 appearance last weekend: “I think he did a great job. It's so difficult to step up in FP1, so difficult.

"It's very different to test days – you don't have much tires, you don't have many laps, and he did just a very good job. You have seen on the timesheets, but he was very calm, he gave all the right feedback, didn't put a foot wrong, didn't break the car.

“So, honestly, he has impressed us on that FP1, no question about that. And we look forward to the next time in the car, towards the end of the year. To have a decision, as we said, as much as we accept that everyone would like us to decide, the truth is we are not in a rush."

Red Bull Formula 1 Helmut Marko Yuki Tsunoda Liam Lawson Isack Hadjar