Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar on the podium at Zandvoort - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Tsunoda and Lawson at risk as Red Bull seeks the next Verstappen?

18:02, 10 Oct

Updated: 19:40, 10 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Sky Sports pundit and Williams ambassador Jamie Chadwich thinks Red Bull might drop Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda from their roster for the 2026 F1 season.

If he comes in and he is also off the pace, like we've seen every driver that's come up against Max recently, then there's a fundamental issue there.

- Jamie Chadwick

So far only two drivers are assured of a seat within the Red Bull Racing family: Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. What awaits Lawson and Tsunoda, may be an exit from the Red Bull flock.

She said on Sky Sports' the F1 Show: "I think they might [drop Lawson and Tsunoda], and if they do, I think it's very obvious is because they are constantly looking to try and find the next Max Verstappen.

"They don't want to find the next sort of number two drivers or just a driver that can be solid across the board. They want to find drivers that are these kind of superstars in Formula One."

Liam Lawson marching back to his box in Singapore. Photo: RacePictures.

That lofty objective, Chadwick believes rules out Lawson and Tsunoda.

She continued: "And I think if they, in my opinion, just keep the same lineup as they've got, then they know that those two drivers aren't going to be Red Bull Racing drivers.

"They accept that they're not going to maybe match Verstappen, but ever be within, you know, a tenth or so of Max, which is what they really kind of need.

"So are they better off just trying something new, putting someone new in, a younger driver, fresh driver, and they might find, like they have with Isack Hadjar in, the Racing Bulls?"

yuki-tsunoda-rb21-red-bull-racing-singapore-gp-f1

Yuki Tsunoda qualified in P15 for the Singapore Grand Prix. Photo: RacePictures.

However, she does argue that should Hadjar share the fates of Sergio Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda, then the issue of not finding a compatible teammate for Max Verstappen lies on Red Bull's doorstep.

She said: "How is he [Hadjar] going to fare in the Red Bull? If he comes in and he is also off the pace, like we've seen every driver that's come up against Max recently, then there's a fundamental issue there."

Should the opposite ocurr, then Red Bull Racing's approach will be confirmed as the right one for the team to continue to pursuit.

"But if he comes in and he's right where they need him to be, then yeah, they constantly need to be trying to find these young drivers to to put in the Racing Bulls, develop them up, to ultimately go into the Red Bull racing seat," she concluded.

Red Bull has confirmed Verstappen and Hadjar

Looking ahead to 2026 Red Bull have confirmed Verstappen and Hadjar, with the Dutchman assured to continue on in Red Bull Racing. However, the three remaining seats in the teams under the Red Bull umbrella have not yet been assigned.

Hadjar is widely regarded as the right choice to pair Verstappen with. Arvid Lindblad is also an option to take up a seat at Racing Bulls. Former McLaren junior Alex Dunne although on the Austrians' radar, remains an unlikely choice since his chances of accruing the necessary points for a super license are very slim.

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