Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has revealed that a decision on the driver line-ups that its two Formula 1 teams will field in 2026 will be announced next week.
With two races remaining in 2025, Red Bull is still to announce who will partner Max Verstappen, while both spots at sister side Racing Bull remain available.
Liam Lawson started the current campaign alongside Verstappen, but a turbulent opening two weekends prompted Red Bull to swap him with Yuki Tsunoda.
However, Tsunoda has done little better in the sister RB21, scoring 25 points in his 20 outings in the car, placing Isack Hadjar as the favourite to replace him.
With Arvid Lindblad expected to graduate to F1 to take one seat at Racing Bulls, Lawson and Tsunoda are in competition to retain their places on the F1 grid.
Mekies repeated that, despite Red Bull’s original plan to finalise the 2026 line-up earlier this month, the team ultimately adjusted its internal deadline yet again.
Still, he emphasised that the announcement would arrive sooner than later, with Red Bull reluctant to allow the saga to drag on until the last race in Abu Dhabi.
“We will announce our line-up immediately after Qatar,” Mekies told Nextgen Auto. “Just one more week of patience.”
Has Red Bull overlooked a potential F1 candidate?
Ayumi Iwasa is not thought to be in the running despite scooping the Super Formula 1 title, though his manager, Tomohiko Koike, believes that should not be the case.
“[Ayumu] Iwasa is getting better and better,” Koike told Autosport.
“In terms of his driving skill and his approach towards racing, he was better than last season.
“This season he has been very consistent and I would say his average performance has been better than any driver.
“It’s quite easy to imagine him in Formula 1. I think he would be better than Tsunoda.”
READ MORE – Yuki Tsunoda vows he was faster than Max Verstappen ‘multiple times’ at F1 Las Vegas GP
Discussion about this post