Red Bull in ‘no hurry’ to name Verstappen’s 2026 teammate - Mekies

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Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has made clear that the bulls are in no hurry to lock down Max Verstappen’s partner for next season, stressing that the team will take its time before making what is set to be a pivotal decision for 2026.

The seat alongside Verstappen has proved notoriously difficult to fill, with both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson getting opportunities this season as successors to Sergio Perez.

Tsunoda currently holds the drive, presumably until the end of the campaign, but with 10 races still to go, speculation has mounted about possible contenders – including young Racing Bulls prospect Isack Hadjar.

“The reality for us is that we’re not in any hurry,” Mekies told French broadcaster Canal+ in Zandvoort.

“We’re lucky to have Yuki in the car; we have Racing Bulls, which is working very well, and where we can also evaluate our young drivers.”

While Tsunoda still holds a chance of keeping his seat for next season, Hadjar is seen as the Japanese driver’s most probable replacement.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, also shed light on the timeline for the decision, indicating a deliberate evaluation process.

“We’ve extended the options, or rather, the drivers have extended them with us. So, around September or October, we want to have a few more races to observe, and then we’ll make the decisions,” the Austrian told Sky Germany.

Evaluating Talent Amid Transition

Mekies underlined the depth of the team’s options, and therefore its relaxed approach to the situation.

“Yuki took a real step forward at Spa and also in Budapest in terms of his deficit to Max. It wasn’t very noticeable because in Budapest we weren’t competitive overall,” he noted. “So we’ll see.

“Liam is making a lot of progress at Racing Bulls, Isack [Hadjar] has been doing an extraordinary job since the start of the season and keeps surprising us at every race.”

Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar with his mother, Randa Hadjar.

Next year’s all-important regulation overhaul also justifies Red Bull’s cautious approach to designating its line-ups. Mekies acknowledged the external pressure but remained steadfast in prioritizing performance over haste.

“We understand the questions and the impatience surrounding this,” he added.

“But for us, it’s first and foremost about trying to put our drivers in the best possible position for the remainder of the season and seeing where we are in a few months’ time.

“If you look at it from Red Bull’s point of view, it’s hard to see why we would be in a hurry to make this decision.”

For now, Red Bull is content to let its drivers prove themselves on the track, ensuring the eventual choice aligns with its ambitions for 2026 and beyond.

“There are still 10 races to go. Then we’ll make the best possible decision with everyone involved,” concluded Mekies.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.