Bhubaneshwar – While four-time world champion Max Verstappen’s place at the top of Formula One is secure, the futures of the drivers around him are a subject of intense speculation, a situation underscored by a highly successful weekend for the Red Bull family of teams in Baku. For the first time since 2020, both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls had all their drivers score points in the same race.
A Weekend of Personal Bests
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a day of career milestones for several drivers in the Red Bull stable. Verstappen claimed his latest victory, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson finished in a career-high fifth place. His result marked the highest F1 grid position by a New Zealander since Chris Amon in 1976. One place behind Lawson was Yuki Tsunoda, whose sixth-place finish was his best since he moved up from Racing Bulls to the senior Red Bull team this season. Racing Bulls’ rising star Isack Hadjar also contributed with a 10th-place finish, adding to a highly productive weekend for the brand.
Red Bull’s Driver Decisions
Despite the strong results, the energy drink brand is in no rush to finalize its 2026 driver lineup. Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies confirmed to Reuters that the company holds all the contracts and therefore has “all the cards.”
“We have more time,” Mekies said to Reuters reporters. “We will not wait until [the final round in] Abu Dhabi, but we have a few more races for sure.”
The Battle for a Red Bull Racing Seat
The most prominent question mark hangs over Tsunoda’s place alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. Isack Hadjar, a strong candidate for rookie of the year, is widely considered the favorite to take Tsunoda’s seat after a season that already includes a podium finish in the Netherlands. The decision hinges on whether the 20-year-old Hadjar is ready for one of the most demanding roles in the sport as Verstappen’s teammate.
The Future of Racing Bulls
The potential promotion of Hadjar would create a chain reaction. Highly-rated Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, who is currently seventh in Formula Two, looks to be in line for a promotion to Racing Bulls, though he could be held back for another season. If Lindblad moves up and Hadjar is promoted, the choice for the second Racing Bulls seat would come down to Lawson and Tsunoda. Tsunoda’s backer, Honda, is leaving Red Bull to become Aston Martin’s engine partner next year, a factor that could weigh on the decision. However, Tsunoda’s recent pace in Baku gave Red Bull a “clean sample,” as Mekies termed it, and a clear indication of his capabilities.
As for his own performance, Tsunoda believes his momentum is building. “I feel like I have unlocked something that I can take into future races,” he told Reuters reporters.
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