F1 Today | Tsunoda dismissed by Red Bull, Who will partner Verstappen now?

Red Bull Racing is parting ways with Yuki Tsunoda at the end of the season, multiple sources have confirmed to GPblog, despite official denials from the team. Tsunoda was promoted to the senior squad just two races into the season to replace Liam Lawson, but after 10 Grands Prix, the experiment has failed to deliver. With only one ninth-place and two 10th-place finishes, the Japanese driver hasn’t made the impact Red Bull hoped for.

His departure reignites the question of who will partner Max Verstappen, assuming the Dutchman stays. With Verstappen’s own future still in the air, the second Red Bull seat for 2026 remains one of the hottest topics in the driver market.

Yuki Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull Racing will end after this season, GPblog can confirm, leaving Helmut Marko with a familiar dilemma: who will partner Max Verstappen in 2026? If Verstappen stays, Marko has two clear options within the Red Bull talent pool. Isack Hadjar has impressed at Racing Bulls, but whether the Frenchman has the potential to become a Grand Prix winner — let alone a title contender — remains an open question.

The other, more daring choice is Arvid Lindblad. The 17-year-old Brit has been touted as “te new Verstappen,” and Marko has never shied away from bold moves. After all, he famously promoted Verstappen to Red Bull at just 18. If anyone would take a similar gamble on Lindblad, it’s Marko.