Last Updated on October 20 2025, 5:31 pm
Red Bull’s driver line-up for 2026 is slowly taking shape, and reports from the Dutch Newspaper De Limburger claims that the energy drink giant has made its decision on who will partner Max Verstappen. The report also hints at a complex situation involving Yuki Tsunoda.
Shaping the 2026 Red Bull line-up – While three seats remain open across Red Bull Racing and its sister team VCARB, insiders say the actual number of vacancies is smaller. Rising star Isack Hadjar is reportedly set to be promoted to the senior Red Bull squad, a move that has been an open secret in the paddock for some time. De Limburger claims that Red Bull’s top figures, including Helmut Marko, see Hadjar as the long-term successor to Verstappen, who has dominated the sport in recent years.
Marko is said to be eager to make the news official, though internal disagreements have delayed the announcement. Some within the Red Bull leadership have been cautious about promoting Hadjar too quickly, fearing that pitting a young driver against Verstappen too soon could hinder his development.
Hadjar has won Red Bull’s confidence
Despite these concerns, Hadjar appears to have convinced Red Bull that he is ready for the challenge. According to the report, the French driver reassured the team that he does not expect to beat Verstappen immediately and that he understands the realities of competing alongside the four-time world champion. This self-awareness reportedly impressed Red Bull’s decision-makers, who value his grounded attitude after seeing several drivers falter under the pressure of unrealistic ambitions.
De Limburger suggests that this honesty may have earned Hadjar one of the toughest jobs in Formula 1: sharing a garage with Verstappen. Red Bull executives are said to believe that Hadjar’s mindset and adaptability make him a safer long-term investment than other young contenders.
Tsunoda’s uncertain future
Hadjar’s promotion naturally raises questions about Yuki Tsunoda’s future. The Japanese driver, who has shown flashes of pace and maturity in recent seasons, is now at risk of losing his seat. However, according to reports, Red Bull may still find a way to retain Tsunoda, primarily for financial and logistical reasons.
Tsunoda’s strong ties to Honda complicate the situation. Although Red Bull’s formal collaboration with the Japanese manufacturer will end after 2025, the team still relies on Honda’s technical support. For instance, testing for next year must be conducted using older Red Bull cars featuring Honda power units. Retaining Tsunoda could therefore be useful in maintaining a smooth working relationship with Honda during the transition.
Behind the scenes, a strategic reshuffle is underway
Red Bull is reportedly exploring a plan to move Tsunoda back to the B team, VCARB, for the 2026 season. This would enable Honda to continue supporting one of its protégés while helping Red Bull to manage the costs associated with testing and development.
The Japanese manufacturer reportedly paid a significant sum to secure Tsunoda’s promotion to the senior team for 2025, and retaining his presence in Formula 1 remains a priority for Honda’s executives in Tokyo.
Lawson ditched
If this reshuffle occurs, Tsunoda’s demotion would also affect other young drivers in the Red Bull ecosystem. Liam Lawson, who had been hoping for a full-time seat, would once again be left without a clear path into Formula 1. Meanwhile, British talent Arvid Lindblad is expected to fill the vacant position within the junior team, continuing Red Bull’s tradition of promoting from within. This move would obviously mean that Lawson would be ditched.
Formula 1’s Sprint Farce: Sainz Slams ‘Pointless’ Format as Fans Switch Off
Looking ahead to 2026
Verstappen will lead the team into a new era with the impending arrival of Hadjar, who will focus on cultivating the next generation while maintaining dominance. However, as the situation with Tsunoda demonstrates, Red Bull’s driver management remains as complex and strategic as ever, balancing performance, politics and partnerships equally.
As the 2025 season progresses, attention will focus on how these changes evolve and whether Tsunoda can secure his place within the Red Bull family amidst shifting priorities and the emergence of new talent.
Shocking situation at Schumacher’s home
UPDATE: Verstappen team-mate decision announcement timeline revealed
In Formula 1, timing is everything, both on and off the track. As the season approaches its climax, one of the sport’s most powerful teams is preparing to make a decision that could determine its future for years to come. Behind the scenes, discussions have intensified and performances are being analysed, with every lap in the coming weeks potentially influencing the course of a career.
With anticipation building and speculation swirling in the paddock, the atmosphere is tense yet focused. The team’s management faces a delicate balancing act, weighing up proven experience against emerging potential and loyalty against future promise. As the clock ticks towards a pivotal moment later this month, all eyes are turning towards what promises to be one of the most closely watched decisions of the season.
Decision timeline and contenders
Red Bull is expected to announce its decision on Verstappen’s 2026 teammate soon after…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
MORE F1 NEWS – Senior paddock individual reveals McLaren “consequences” for Norris
Whilst Lando Norris did nothing wrong at the Singapore Grand Prix when passing his team mate into turn three just after the start according to the stewards, McLaren have taken a different point of view and punished their driver.
Piastri looked to make an opportunistic move on Max Verstappen around the outside, opening up space for his team mate on the inside of turn two. Realising the danger, the Australian moved slightly across to counter Norris attack, but was too late. Yet his moved compromised Lando’s line into turn three forcing him across the kerb which made his braking problematic, meaning he touched the Red Bull ahead which bounced him right and he touched Piastri’s car.
The newly crowned constructors’ champions have made a big deal this season about their “papaya rules” which govern the on track combat between their drivers. Yet despite this micro managing of the racing allowed, Zak Brown and Andrea Stella repeat their mantra that their drivers are free to race…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
De Limburger isn’t like AMuS, so I wouldn’t put emphasis on its claims.
Red Bull wouldn’t benefit financially from running Tsunoda anymore, nor does technical support need to continue because Red Bull could operate the existing Honda PUs themselves.
All in all, performing TPC tests with Honda-powered cars doesn’t require having a Honda-affiliated driver in the roster, nor covering the costs of them either.
Honda will continue to be his personal sponsor regardless of what he does next year, so baffling & totally contradictory claims.
Putting Tsunoda back to the B-team after having been there for little over four seasons before promotion & at the expense of Lawson, out of all, would be one of the most illogical decisions ever, without any justification, sporting or otherwise, also considering their relative career situations.
Unless they’re willing to let Tsunoda go altogether, they should just keep him in the main team, so that he’d still benefit from staying in the organization.
Even Albon wasn’t put back in the B-team despite his career situation at the time, so nothing should be different regarding Tsunoda, especially considering his conflicting affiliation & that Aston Martin, Audi, & Alpine will also need to do TPC testing using cars powered by existing PUs.