Helmut Marko now pushing for ‘sensational’ driver to replace Yuki Tsunoda but Red Bull have one ‘big question’

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Helmut Marko has regained control of Red Bull’s driver line-up after the team sacked Christian Horner, which has put yet more pressure on the shoulders of Yuki Tsunoda.

The Japanese ace is fighting for his future on the Formula 1 grid after an underwhelming run since he replaced Liam Lawson in March. Red Bull did not initially want to promote Tsunoda to join Max Verstappen, but pulled a U-turn as Lawson was out of answers after two rounds.

It seemed at first that Tsunoda would offer an upgrade on Lawson as the 25-year-old scored points in only his second race for Red Bull. But since scoring seven points across his first five rounds at Red Bull, the Kanagawa native has gone five rounds without scoring a single point.

Tsunoda’s qualifying results have disappointed Marko, in particular, after the Honda-backed talent crashed in Q1 at Imola before managing P12 in Monaco, P20 in Spain, P11 in Canada, P18 in Austria and P12 in Britain. In contrast, Verstappen scored pole position at Silverstone.

Helmut Marko wants Isack Hadjar to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull in 2026

So, while Red Bull sacked team principal Horner without telling him why and named Laurent Mekies as the Briton’s successor, the pressure remains on Tsunoda to prove he deserves a contract extension. The 99-time Grand Prix starter is a free agent after the 2025 F1 season.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Mekies knows what Tsunoda can produce, having worked with him at Racing Bulls last term. So, Tsunoda is expected to see out the 2025 F1 season with Red Bull, yet motorsport adviser Marko is already looking to put a new name in the car next year in Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar.

That is according to GPblog, which reports that Marko has firmly taken control of Red Bull’s driver line-up after Horner was sacked. He will also look within the Red Bull Junior Team for a new driver and is also ‘at the forefront’ pushing to promote Hadjar from Racing Bulls in 2026.

Hadjar is one of three names on Marko’s shortlist to replace Tsunoda, alongside a return to Red Bull for Lawson or a shock F1 debut with the squad for 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad. The Frenchman is the leading option, having surprised Red Bull with his consistency this season.

Red Bull did not expect Hadjar to perform at the level the 20-year-old has managed during his debut season with Racing Bulls. His speed and lack of mistakes especially stand out, yet how Hadjar would react to a series of setbacks at Red Bull remains their one ‘big question’.

Yuki Tsunoda will know Helmut Marko wants Isack Hadjar in his Red Bull seat in 2026

Marko warned Hadjar before his F1 debut to keep cool on Racing Bulls’ radio, having built a reputation in the junior formulas for being very hot-headed and quick to vent his anger. But his colourful outbursts have been less regular in F1, given Hadjar is not paying for the drive.

Still, Marko called Hadjar out for showing ‘a lack of intelligence’ in Monaco after the Parisian branded himself an ‘idiot’, having crashed twice during practice. Yet the French-Algerian star turned that weekend around to score a career-best qualifying of P6 and his best finish of P6.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Tsunoda will likely know that Marko wants to put Hadjar in his Red Bull seat in 2026, as well. Marko called Hadjar a ‘sensational’ talent, who has exceeded Red Bull’s expectations, at the same time as criticising Tsunoda’s disappointing qualifying results prior to the Canadian GP.

Also, Marko smiled at the idea of Hadjar joining Verstappen at Red Bull when the potential of pairing the Racing Bulls rookie and the Dutchman next season was put to the Austrian at the Canadian GP. Tsunoda, then, no doubt has to improve massively to change Marko’s mind.