With Max Verstappen locked into Red Bull until 2028, every other seat across Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls remains open for 2026, though it must be noted that Isack Hadjar has already secured a spot on the grid for next year within the Red Bull family, albeit the team he will race for is still to be confirmed.

Paddock rumours suggest Isack Hadjar is in line to partner Verstappen next year, while Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad is understood to be a strong contender for a Racing Bulls seat. That scenario would leave Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson fighting over the final place at the Faenza-based outfit.

Permane made it clear that the delay is unrelated to the 2026 regulations. “No, not at all. It’s nothing to do with the new regulations,” he said.

The Racing Bulls boss added that experience remains a decisive factor in the selection process. “You always want the experienced driver,” he said, highlighting Williams' driver pairing of Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon as an example. “Experience always counts. Nothing beats pace, obviously… it will undoubtedly help for next year.”

However, with the 2026 rules bringing a reset for everyone, Permane noted that the value of pre-existing experience will be balanced by extensive simulator preparation. “No one has experienced these regulations,” he said. “There’ll be a huge amount of simulator work… once the season finishes, that will only ramp up.”

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Yuki Tsunoda is most at risk of missing out on a Red Bull seat despite his improvement. He says that if Helmut Marko alone decided, Tsunoda would be “90%” out, but increased political influence from Red Bull Austria complicates the decision. Read his full statements here.

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