F1 driver now ‘highly resistant’ to replacing Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull after hiring new management

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Red Bull Racing are one of four teams that haven’t confirmed their complete line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The F1 driver market hasn’t really ignited this year after the craziness of last season, caused by Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari.

Cadillac have confirmed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, taking two experienced options out of the equation for next season.

Mercedes appear set to continue with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli heading into next year.

There are question marks over the contracts Mercedes will offer Russell and Antonelli, specifically to do with the length of their deals.

Aside from Alpine’s second seat, that means the only open opportunities in F1 for 2026 are at Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls.

Max Verstappen has committed to at least one more year with Red Bull, but Yuki Tsunoda’s position is at risk.

Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson are also waiting to discover their fate, and the Frenchman has made it clear that he’s happy where he is ahead of next season.

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Isack Hadjar ‘highly resistant’ to 2026 Red Bull move to replace Yuki Tsunoda

It’s previously been reported that Hadjar is Red Bull’s favoured driver to replace Tsunoda if the 25-year-old can’t turn his form around.

Tsunoda has been told what he needs to do to save his seat by team principal Laurent Mekies, but whether the RB21 allows him to achieve those goals is another matter.

A report from Motorsport looking at the state of the driver market has shared more details about next season’s line-ups.

They report that Hadjar is ‘highly resistant’ to the idea of stepping up to race for Red Bull next season.

However, because he’s part of the Red Bull system, he may be ‘compelled’ to accept his promotion to drive alongside Verstappen.

Hadjar has changed his management in recent weeks, but whether they have the power to block any move over the winter break is yet to be seen.

Not only that, but if Hadjar turned down the opportunity ahead of 2026, Red Bull may not look favourably on him in the future, especially with highly-rated youngster Arvid Lindblad expected to be racing in F1 next season.

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The three drivers that should prove to Isack Hadjar that he shouldn’t resist a Red Bull promotion

Recent history suggests that whoever drives alongside Verstappen at Red Bull is ultimately going to struggle.

Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have gone on to have successful careers in F1, even if their time at Red Bull didn’t go to plan.

However, with Hadjar on course to potentially finish in the top 10 of the drivers’ championship this season in his rookie year, he should be very well set up to support Verstappen heading into 2026.

Verstappen himself only finished 12th in the standings before his first year with Red Bull, while Daniel Ricciardo’s final year at Toro Rosso saw him finish P14 in the championship.

Sebastian Vettel was the gold standard of Toro Rosso drivers, winning the Italian Grand Prix in his final year with the team and completing the season in eighth.

Hadjar isn’t expected to challenge for a victory this year, or even a podium, but he’s on course to match some incredibly talented drivers when they were in Red Bull’s second team before they earned their promotions.