Red Bull have now decided one driver will be joining Racing Bulls in 2026

Follow us on Google Discover

The future of the Racing Bulls line-up is one of the only remaining questions in the Formula 1 driver market this season.

Rookie Isack Hadjar has impressed during his first F1 campaign, which could mean he’s no longer a Racing Bulls driver in 2026.

Hadjar is the favourite to race for Red Bull next year, with Max Verstappen confirming earlier in the campaign that he’ll spend at least one more season with the team.

Yuki Tsunoda’s future hangs in the balance, further complicating things, with Liam Lawson returning to form after a very difficult first half of the year.

Lawson’s demotion from Red Bull after just two races impacted his confidence, but his fifth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, crucially ahead of Tsunoda, has highlighted that he still has the potential to be a very good Formula 1 driver.

Dutch journalist Erik van Haren was discussing the United States Grand Prix with former Minardi driver Christijan Albers.

He believes that, according to his ‘information’, another driver, Arvid Lindblad, will be one of the two drivers competing for Racing Bulls next year.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Arvid Lindblad ‘is going to be’ a Racing Bulls driver during the 2026 Formula 1 season

Albers and Van Haren were speaking on De Telegraaf’s Formula 1 podcast and discussing Red Bull’s line-ups.

Van Haren said: “Tsunoda, by the way. Yes, seventh. But then again, almost a minute behind.

“Yes, but he’s doing a bit better now. So maybe that says something about that Red Bull.”

Albers replied: “Well, I hope so. Yes, definitely. But I just hope… he needs to get that mojo, and that’s a bit of a bummer. And I hope he gets it now, because I mean, in qualifying, there wasn’t much he could do about it, because of course, there was all that traffic.

“Can you say something? Yes, you have to send him out earlier. If you send him out earlier, you miss that track improvement.

“You need that three-tenths with a driver like that. That ensures you can get into Q3, doesn’t it? So, that was just a shame.”

Van Haren explained: “So it’s clear that Lawson and Tsunoda are both still not really sure of their places, because we know that Lindblad is going to be the fourth driver.

“We know that Hadjar will be driving alongside Verstappen next year and that, according to our information, it’s basically between Tsunoda and Lawson.

“Because the other two I just mentioned basically know that this is going to happen, but they don’t know what’s going to happen yet.

“So they’re still fighting for that last spot at Racing Bulls. But they’re really stirring things up against each other now, aren’t they? Tsunoda said that Lawson bothers him a lot.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents

Arvid Lindblad set for another Formula 1 audition at the Mexico City Grand Prix

The 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix will see nine rookies take to the track during Free Practice 1.

Lindblad is one of those rookies, and he will replace Verstappen for the first hour of the race weekend.

It’s not the first time the British teenager has taken part in an F1 weekend, with Lindblad impressing Red Bull at Silverstone on his first appearance for Red Bull in an official session.

Lindblad is preparing behind the scenes for a potential F1 call-up in 2026, although his recent form in Formula 2 hasn’t stood out.

He crashed into Alex Dunne at Monza and is out of contention to win the championship with two rounds remaining, although his current team, Campos, have already confirmed two drivers for next season, suggesting that Lindblad is moving on.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have proved this season that winning in Formula 2 isn’t necessary to be a successful F1 driver, but Lindblad’s recent performances might be the only thing stopping the 18-year-old from becoming a Racing Bulls driver in 2026.