The fight for the remaining seats for the 2026 Formula 1 season is ramping up, and Red Bull have the most spots available.
Max Verstappen is the only Red Bull driver contracted for 2026 and beyond, having secured his services amid talks with Mercedes earlier in the year. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda, as well as Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, are out of contract in 2025.
Tsunoda replaced Lawson just two races into the season at Red Bull as he struggled to adapt to the RB21. Much like his predecessors, the Japanese driver has also found it difficult to perform in the second car, scoring just 17 points since his promotion.
Drivers out of contract at the end of the 2025 F1 season
*Franco Colapinto on a race-by-race contract
Rumours have been rife as to what Red Bull will do with their drivers come 2026. The general feeling is that Tsunoda will lose his seat, potentially dropping off the grid entirely, with Hadjar being the favourite to join Red Bull.
Formula 2 star Arvid Lindblad is being linked with Racing Bulls next season, having impressed the Red Bull hierarchy in the junior categories and private testing. Amid all the speculation, the team’s decision on their drivers for 2026 is obvious.
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesRed Bull must keep their 2025 driver line-up in 2026
With Hadjar being tipped for the Red Bull seat, Racing Bulls have not ruled out Tsunoda returning to partner with Lawson, as he did at the end of 2024. But given his experience, it would not make sense for him to return to the so-called ‘junior team’.
Red Bull are in a rebuilding phase under Laurent Mekies, who has replaced Christian Horner after his sacking in July. The team are starting to reap the benefits of his technical approach, with Verstappen winning the last two races.
Mekies has planned to improve the second car, with Tsunoda already seeing a slight upturn in performance. He recorded his best finish for Red Bull in Baku with P6 after reaching Q3 on Saturday.
It could well be a one-off result, given that the RB21 was suited to Baku’s track conditions. But it was an encouraging weekend that the 25-year-old can take confidence from, even more so as Helmut Marko was ‘bouncing’ over Tsunoda’s performance.
Red Bull need stability as they head into a new era as an engine supplier under the new technical regulations. With Tsunoda showing signs of improvement under Mekies and with his experience, it makes little sense to disrupt it with Hadjar.
While the Frenchman is an impressive talent, Verstappen’s teammates over the years show a worrying trend that could see his career hit a brick wall. Hadjar himself is hesitant about joining Red Bull; they need to take care of him whilst giving Tsunoda the chance to prove himself.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
Photo by Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesRed Bull need to keep Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad should stay in F2
As already mentioned, Hadjar needs more time to develop, rather than be thrust into a high-pressure situation. The same applies to Lawson and F2 talent Lindblad.
The former is starting to gain his confidence back at Racing Bulls, with the VCARB 02 being a much easier machine to drive. Lawson’s form has started to pick up, recording his best qualifying of P3 in Baku before finishing fifth in the race; his best result to date.
The New Zealander is familiar with the Faenza outfit’s operation. He provides some experience for the team as they head into 2026.
2026 confirmed F1 drivers
Lindblad is being compared to the next Verstappen at Red Bull as the 18-year-old continues to impress. However, it may make more sense to keep him in F2 for another year – he currently sits seventh in the standings in 2025.
Promoting a driver too soon could put unnecessary pressure on their shoulders. Kimi Antonelli is the prime example of how being thrown into a top team can create unrealistic expectations, as he struggles for consistent points in 2025.
Red Bull cannot make the same mistake with Lindblad. They must nurture him properly, before assessing his future in 2027 if their F1 drivers fail to meet demands.