Following another season of rapid driver changes, Red Bull has confirmed a significant decision ahead of the 2026 season. Max Verstappen will be joined by a new teammate next year, with Isack Hadjar chosen for the second seat.

However, for Yuki Tsunoda, the announcement marks a painful turning point, as he moves into a reserve role, despite briefly partnering the four-time world champion in 2025.

 

 

A turbulent season at Red Bull

Red Bull’s second seat has once again proven to be one of the most challenging roles in Formula 1. Liam Lawson began the 2025 season alongside Verstappen, but was replaced after just two Grands Prix, paving the way for Tsunoda. The Japanese driver, who has been part of the Red Bull programme for many years, finally received his opportunity with the senior team after spending several years with Racing Bulls.

However, stability remained elusive. Despite showing occasional competitiveness, Tsunoda was ultimately overlooked when Red Bull made its long-term decision for 2026. Instead, the team promoted Isack Hadjar, while confirming Tsunoda as a reserve driver for next season.

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Mekies: “A very difficult decision.”

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies admitted that the choice was far from straightforward. Speaking to the official Formula 1 website, he emphasised just how complex the evaluation process had been.

“It was a very difficult decision to make,” he explained. ‘The second seat at Oracle Red Bull Racing is not easy to fill. Our car is challenging to drive, and naturally, we did everything we could to support Yuki. At a certain point, we had to make a tough call based on our vision for the coming years.”

He also stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in Tsunoda’s abilities. In fact, Red Bull still sees value in keeping him closely involved.

“I hope, and I believe, that Yuki will get another chance,” he said. “He will be a reserve driver for us next year.”

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A Honda deal rejected

Honda proposed that Red Bull give a 2026 race seat for Tsunoda in exchange for supplying engines at a discount for testing purposes. Formula 1 has strict restrictions for teams wishing to run current cars in testing, hence why older F1 cars are required to be run in their place. Red Bull Ford in 2026 will not be using Honda power anymore, but will still need to run the older power units for some years to come, with the support of the Japanese manufacturer.

Red Bull rejected the deal in favour of promoting Isack Hadjar. Despite the rejection of the race seat offer, Red Bull is expected to receive some discounted power units from Honda for their TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme, facilitated by retaining Tsunoda as a reserve driver.

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Hadjar gets his opportunity

For Hadjar, the announcement represents a major breakthrough. The Frenchman’s promotion continues Red Bull’s tradition of fast-tracking young talent when the time is right. Partnering with Verstappen in one of the most competitive teams on the grid will be a formidable challenge, but also a career-defining opportunity.

At the same time, Hadjar’s promotion highlights the relentless internal competition within the Red Bull driver pool, where performance, adaptability, and long-term potential are constantly reassessed.

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Mekies: “You never know what the future holds.”

Despite losing his race seat, Tsunoda’s Formula 1 story may not be over. Mekies pointed to Red Bull’s own history as proof that circumstances can change quickly.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “We’ve always been known for making fairly quick decisions about drivers.”

“At the end of the 2024 season, Yuki was performing well. It was hard for him to accept when Liam was promoted instead.”

Mekies recalled how Lawson himself had faced uncertainty before being given his chance.

“He spent the winter wondering if he’d ever get his opportunity. Three races later, he was driving for Oracle Red Bull Racing. You never know what the future holds.”

The setback is significant for Tsunoda, but Red Bull remains convinced that his resilience and experience could open another door back onto the grid.

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NEXT ARTICLE: Ferrari positive engine rumours whilst other components considered “critical”

Ferrari are looking to bounce back strongly in 2026 after a hugely disappointing season saw them winless for the first time in four years. Formula one winless seasons in Maranello are less rare than many may think, with the Scuderia recording their 17th in 75 years.

The longest spell the Italian racing marque went without a win was from 1991-1994 and spanned 58 Grand Prix. The drought was finally ended by driver Gerhard Berger who won his home race in Hockenheim at the 1994 German Grand Prix.

2025 saw the fanfare arrival of Lewis Hamilton’s in January who was afforded a personalised tour of the facilities by group chairman John Elkann. And it was he who was credited in the Italian media with landing the seven tines F1 champion to restore Ferrari’s fortunes.

 

Ferrari suffering longest F1 championship drought

Yet it was not to be and the Scuderia have now extended their drought of constructor championship years to seventeen years, one longer than their previous worst era between 1983-1999. In terms of a drivers’ title, its now eighteen years since Kimi Raikkonen pipped both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton to the post by a single point. The team’s longest winless streak for this championship is 21 years from 1979 (Jodie Scheckter) to 2000 (Michael Schumacher).

With Formula One’s biggest shakeup of the technical regulations in its history, expectations are high in Maranello for a Ferrari reset. With both new power units and chassis slated for 2026, a change in the pecking order is…READ MORE ON THIS STORY