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 the Mexican Grand Prix at the end of October. The leading Formula 1 team is facing a pivotal decision that will determine its competitiveness in the next phase of the new regulations and its partnership with Ford.

According to an Exclusive report from RTL, Red Bull will reveal its final decision after the Mexican Grand Prix, which takes place from 24 to 26 October. This weekend is considered the final opportunity for the remaining candidates to impress the team management and secure the highly sought-after position alongside Max Verstappen.

Only two drivers remain in contention: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar. Liam Lawson, once considered a strong contender, is reportedly no longer in the running.

Tsunoda ‘not done enough’ as announcement in Mexico is expected

 

Yuki Tsunoda’s position

Tsunoda entered Formula 1 in 2021 and has long been associated with Red Bull’s junior programme, enjoying strong backing from Honda, the team’s current engine partner. However, Honda’s exit and Red Bull’s future collaboration with Ford have weakened that support. Tsunoda, now aged 25, has endured an inconsistent season for RB. Since being promoted to the senior team at the start of 2025, he has collected 25 points in 17 races, leaving his long-term prospects uncertain.

In recent rounds, however, the Japanese driver has shown improvement. He has scored points in three of the last five races, signalling a return to form at a crucial moment. Whether this resurgence will convince Red Bull’s leadership remains to be seen.

Senior paddock individual reveals McLaren “consequences” for Norris

 

Isack Hadjar’s breakthrough

The 21-year-old French rookie has had an impressive debut season. With 39 championship points and a podium finish at Zandvoort, he has proven that he can perform well under pressure. His rapid adaptation and consistent performances have earned him growing support within Red Bull.

Initially, there were concerns within the team about whether he was ready to handle the intensity of driving alongside a dominant teammate like Verstappen. However, according to the Dutch outlet De Limburger (READ MORE), these doubts have diminished in recent weeks as Hadjar continues to deliver consistent results.

Leclerc reacts to Horner at Ferrari

 

Internal debate and future direction

The choice between Tsunoda and Hadjar reflects Red Bull’s broader considerations. On the one hand, Tsunoda offers experience and a well-established understanding of Red Bull’s systems. On the other hand, Hadjar represents the future: a young, fearless racer who could develop into a long-term partner for Verstappen in the upcoming engine partnership with Ford.

The final decision will likely hinge on performances in Mexico, where both drivers are expected to be closely evaluated by senior team figures. With Verstappen already confirmed and Red Bull’s preparations for 2026 underway, the announcement following the Mexican Grand Prix will be a pivotal moment for the team’s next chapter.

Verstappen’s Red Bull penalised after Austin

 

 

UPDATE: Tsunoda ‘not done enough’ says Mekies

Red Bull’s Tsunoda Dilemma: Fast, Fierce, but Not Quite Enough – The United States Grand Prix in Austin gave Yuki Tsunoda one of his best weekends in Red Bull Racing colours. Two seventh-place finishes, a haul of eight points, and a display of aggressive early-lap driving painted a promising picture. For a brief moment, it looked like the fiery Japanese driver had found his rhythm.

Yet, as Laurent Mekies made clear afterwards, Red Bull’s expectations are set far higher than “pretty good.” The verdict was sharp and simple: “Is this enough? No.”

For Tsunoda, it was the kind of performance that looked impressive on paper, yet left Red Bull’s management staring at the stopwatch and frowning. The team might have closed the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes in the Constructors’ standings, but that doesn’t mean the bosses are satisfied. The mood around the Red Bull garage suggested that Tsunoda’s future may already be hanging by a thread, and Mekies’ carefully chosen words sounded less like encouragement and more like preparation for a farewell…READ MORE ON THIS STORY

 

 

MORE F1 NEWS – How the wheels came off McLaren’s title charge

Just five race weekends ago, Oscar Piastri was riding high and looked nailed on to claim the 2025 Formula One drivers’ championship. In fact after the Grand Prix in Zandvoort, The Australian driver was 104 points ahead of Max Verstappen and 34 points in front of his team mate Lando Norris.

Now with six Grand Prix remaining the picture looks very different. Verstappen has almost halved the gap to Piastri which stands at 55 points before the US Grand Prix, where the championship leader will start from a lowly sixth place. Further he is just 22 points behind Lando Norris who lines up alongside Verstappen on the front row of the grid in Austin, but Norris was 3/10ths behind the world champion after two runs in Q3, despite Verstappen failing to make the start/finish line in time to begin his second push lap in the session.

McLaren’s usual calm, collected leadership lost the plot yesterday when a turn one incident took out both of their cars at the start of the Sprint. Zak Brown reacted hastily calling it “amateur hour”, blaming Nico Hulkenberg for failing to utilise his years of experience.

 

McLaren management too quick to apportion blame

Andrea Stella refused to mention names, but insisted that “certain drivers” should have shown “more prudence”, something he repeated more than once in his frustration. Yet the replays clearly showed it was Oscar Piastri who caused the turn one chaos by his lack of experience when he practically stopped his car in turn one to attempt the cut back on his team mate.

Firstly the move was pointless give Norris had not run too deep and it would have left Piastri on the outside coming into the right hander of turn two. Secondly, there were always going to be cars on the Aussie’s inside given the high width of turn one at the Circuit of the Americas and his 180 degree steering lock manoeuvre left Hulkenmberg nowhere to go.

Zack Brown was later challenged over his initial views, admitting he couldn’t “put this one on Hulk.” Yet having punished Norris for his slight touch on his team mate in Singapore, questions will inevitably arise about how the team will now deal with Piastri. The mysterious “consequences” the team announced Lando would suffer on Saturday’s for the remainder of the…READ MORE ON THIS STORY