Christian Horner and Helmut Marko disagree on Red Bull signing 14-podium driver for 2026

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Red Bull may need at least one new driver for the 2026 season. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both face uncertain futures, but for different reasons.

Verstappen could leave Red Bull due to dissatisfaction with the team’s direction. His position on F1’s throne is at risk after they lost their way in the development race.

Perhaps more significantly, he’s seen designer Adrian Newey, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and head of strategy Will Courtenay, all of whom have been instrumental in Red Bull’s success, leave for other teams. This comes after a power struggle involving Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

Horner has publicly quarrelled with Jos Verstappen, and rival teams have sensed an opportunity. Mercedes lead the race for Verstappen but Aston Martin, having signed Newey, will push to sign him as well.

Verstappen is under contract until the end of 2028 but his deal features performance-related exit clauses that may become active next year. Perez, meanwhile, is ostensibly contracted for 2025 after signing a new one-plus-one agreement, but Red Bull are entitled to rip up that deal.

Liam Lawson is the standout candidate to replace Perez if he doesn’t improve markedly before Abu Dhabi. But Lawson would arrive at Red Bull with only 11 races of F1 experience, meaning he’d need to prove his worthiness for a front-running seat.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko split on whether Red Bull should chase George Russell

Horner is interested in George Russell – he publicly confirmed as much at the Singapore Grand Prix. Russell is out of contract at the end of 2025, raising the possibility of an inadvertent driver ‘swap’ with Mercedes.

If Toto Wolff can lure Verstappen for 2026, then Russell will find himself in a shoot-out with teenager Kimi Antonelli for the second seat. Given that Mercedes see Antonelli as a future superstar, they may not want to give up on him so quickly.

However, even if Russell is on the market, Marko isn’t in favour of signing him. This isn’t necessarily a reflection of the Briton’s ability.

Instead, according to Fox Sports Australia, Marko believes that ‘only his juniors’ should be ‘eligible’ for a Red Bull promotion. That means Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda and, in the long run, Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad.

George Russell’s Formula 1 stats including nine crashes

Russell has shown that he deserves to drive for a race-winning team since joining Mercedes in 2022. He immediately beat Lewis Hamilton, the most decorated driver ever, in the championship, and he’s comfortably outperformed him in qualifying this year.

He’s picked up two wins, three poles and 14 podiums in his career to date, most recently standing on the top step in Austria after Verstappen collided with Lando Norris (he was stripped of his Belgian GP victory because his car was underweight). But one could question whether he’s a complete driver.

Critics have argued that Russell has a tendency to crack under pressure at big moments. The most notable example is the 2023 Singapore GP, when he crashed on the final lap as he chased a potential victory, one of nine instances where he’s retired due to an accident or a collision.

Red Bull are also interested in Oscar Piastri, who’s managed by their former driver Mark Webber. Piastri has an unflappable reputation, which may convince Marko to break tradition.