Racing Bulls chief may have just dropped big hint Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of Liam Lawson for 2026 seat

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Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda are fighting for their futures in F1 entering the final three rounds of 2025, and only one may be on the grid next year.

Red Bull have the keys to the three final seats now available on the 2026 F1 grid after Alpine re-signed Franco Colapinto for next season. Tsunoda replaced Lawson at Red Bull in March but he has failed to flourish, while the latter has recovered after he returned to Racing Bulls.

The only Red Bull family driver currently guaranteed to be on the grid in the 2026 F1 season is Max Verstappen, as he has a contract through 2028. Racing Bulls gem Isack Hadjar is also set to return next year, with the 21-year-old rookie expected to replace Tsunoda at Red Bull.

Hadjar’s imminent promotion to the main Red Bull team, and Red Bull’s desire to put Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls in 2026, has left Tsunoda and Lawson to fight for the final drive for the Faenza outfit. Lindblad is expected to graduate from F2 and make his F1 debut in 2026.

Alan Permane’s desire for experience could help Yuki Tsunoda take Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat

Ted Kravitz has suggested that Lawson is currently Red Bull’s favourite to partner Lindblad at Racing Bulls in 2026, which would leave Tsunoda out in the cold and possibly having to get a reserve driver role to stay in F1. But Tsunoda’s hopes to be on the grid might not yet be over.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane may have just dropped a big hint that he would be inclined to welcome Tsunoda back to Faenza in 2026, even at the expense of Lawson, as he “always” wants experienced drivers like Williams enjoy through Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.

“You might only find out on the Monday morning after Abu Dhabi,” Permane said about Red Bull’s timeline to decide their own and Racing Bulls’ line-ups for 2026, via RacingNews365.

Permane added regarding the importance of having experienced drivers ahead of F1’s 2026 regulations, with new engine and aerodynamic rules coming: “I think it’s always important.

“You always want the experienced drivers we see with James [Vowles at Williams], with two super-experienced drivers who perform well almost every weekend.

“That doesn’t take anything away from our guys, but experience always counts. Although nothing beats speed, that’s clear. So, you have to have that speed. That will undoubtedly help for next year.”

Permane’s comments may give Tsunoda the edge in his fight with Lawson for a 2026 Racing Bulls seat. The 25-year-old has entered 111 and started 108 Grands Prix since his debut in 2021 for 119 points, while 23-year-old Lawson has 42 points from his 32 starts since 2023.

Red Bull have delayed deciding their 2026 F1 driver line-ups until the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP

Motorsport adviser Helmut Marko initially claimed that Red Bull wanted to decide their own and Racing Bulls’ line-ups for the 2026 season after the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix. But the Milton Keynes squad then confirmed in Mexico that they had delayed making a decision.

Red Bull now intend to decide their driver line-ups for 2026 around the 2025 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7. It is suggested that Red Bull have delayed deciding Tsunoda and Lawson’s futures so they focus on the 2025 F1 constructors’ championship.

While Tsunoda has only scored 25 points across his 19 rounds with Red Bull so far, the team sit third in the F1 constructors’ standings with three rounds remaining thanks to Verstappen scoring 341 points this year. Mercedes also only lead Red Bull for second place by 32 points.

Racing Bulls also only lead Aston Martin by 10 points and Haas by 12 points in their fight for sixth in the constructors’ standings. The Faenza crew have 82 points so far in 2025, thanks to Hadjar scoring 43, Lawson taking 36 and Tsunoda earning three before he joined Red Bull.