Laurent Mekies already has a preference as Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda fight for Racing Bulls seat

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Red Bull are expected to call up Isack Hadjar to be Max Verstappen’s 2026 teammate. And that will cost Yuki Tsunoda the seat he pursued for years.

Meanwhile, Formula 2 prospect Arvid Lindblad is set for a promotion to Racing Bulls. With those three drivers virtually locked in, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are battling for the last of the four seats.

That’s according to Auto Motor und Sport, with a final decision to be made after the last third of the season. Tsunoda is willing to return to Racing Bulls even though it would appear to be a backwards step in his career.

Red Bull dropped Lawson back into the Faenza team just two races into the 2025 season. The same happened to Pierre Gasly midway through 2019.

Yuki Tsunoda currently has a ‘slight edge’ over Liam Lawson for Racing Bulls seat

Despite driving what is, on paper, a slower car, Lawson is ahead of Tsunoda in the championship, having outscored him by 20 points to 12. But even the New Zealander has been outperformed by Hadjar, who is leading the overall head-to-head 23-6.

AMuS believe that Tsunoda currently has ‘a slight edge’ over Lawson. Laurent Mekies is an ‘important advocate’ for the Japanese driver after seeing him beat both Lawson and Daniel Ricciardo last season.

Mekies refused to confirm whether Tsunoda could return to Racing Bulls when asked about the matter at the Italian GP. But this is believed to be an option.

The report clarifies that both drivers still have the opportunity to make their case, but it’s clear that Mekies feels genuinely sympathetic towards Tsunoda.

Fernando Alonso says Verstappen could win the title for Racing Bulls, which reflects a school of thought in the paddock that the pace of the VCARB02 is actually more accessible.

Could Alpine be the saviour of Red Bull’s latest victim?

AMuS add that the loser of this particular duel ‘faces expulsion’ from Formula 1. Alpine still have a seat available next to Gasly, though the times may not align.

Tsunoda’s manager refused to deny that he’d spoken to Flavio Briatore amid talk of a possible reunion with Gasly. And it was reported earlier this month that Lawson’s camp had an eye on Alpine too.

However, the feeling at the moment is that Paul Aron is the strongest contender to replace Franco Colapinto. Aron could come in for the final rounds of this season with a view to a potential 2026 seat.

As such, it looks unlikely that Tsunoda or Lawson would find refuge at Enstone, increasing the stakes for the next eight races.