Red Bull has postponed its driver lineup decisions for the 2026 Formula 1 season until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in early December, prioritizing Max Verstappen’s championship battle.
Initially, the energy drink company viewed the Mexican Grand Prix as a key evaluation point, but after Lando Norris’ victory last weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko revealed a shift in plans.
“We postponed our decision until the end of the season, because first we want to focus on the championship fight,” Marko told Motorsport.com.
Asked whether fans and drivers will have to wait until after the curtain falls in Abu Dhabi, the Austrian added: “No, but it will be around Abu Dhabi. We will just focus on the championship first.”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies emphasized the team’s deliberate approach, noting that Red Bull’s control over its drivers’ contracts allows flexibility.
“We want to take a bit more time before we make a decision on the drivers. Yuki [Tsunoda] is making steps forward, and the other kids are making steps forward as well,” Mekies said, referencing Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.
“We have no reason to rush the decision, so we will take a bit more time.”
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The delay provides Red Bull with additional data to assess its talent pool.
“For the decision, we accept that everyone would like us to decide soon. But we are not in a rush. We will take all the time we need,” Mekies added. “And we will give these guys as many chances as they can have to demonstrate on track who are the best drivers.”
With Verstappen’s title fight against McLaren’s drivers taking precedence, Red Bull is leveraging the extra races to evaluate performances.
A standout moment from the Mexico Grand Prix weekend was 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad’s appearance in Friday’s FP1 in Verstappen’s RB21. The F2 driver clearly impressed once again Red Bull’s leadership.
“I think he did a great job. It's so difficult to step up in FP1. It's very different these days, as you don't have many tyres and you don’t have many laps. But he did a very good job,” Mekies said.
“He was very calm and gave all the right feedback. He didn't put the foot wrong, and he didn't break the car!” he added with a laugh.
Lindblad’s composed performance has certainly bolstered his case for a Racing Bulls seat in 2026. Red Bull remains unfazed by his uneven F2 season, citing the championship’s engine-related challenges.
Instead, they prioritize his F1 outings, with another opportunity looming at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.
The F1 paddock’s pundits have singled out Hadjar as the frontrunner to partner Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, while Lindblad is well-positioned for Racing Bulls.
The final seat remains contested, with Tsunoda and Lawson vying for the spot although Honda’s switch to Aston Martin next season could spell the end of the Japanese driver’s time in F1.
As the season approaches its climax, Red Bull’s focus remains on securing the championship, but the extended evaluation period offers Tsunoda, Hadjar and Lawson additional opportunities to prove their worth.
The Abu Dhabi finale will not only crown a champion but also finalize Red Bull’s vision for 2026.
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