Who Will Earn Red Bull’s Second Seat in 2026?
Red Bull Racing is one of the top four teams in Formula 1. They won back-to-back Constructors' Championships in 2022 and 2023 and remain a dominant force in the sport. They are home to the current world champion, Max Verstappen, who has won four times with the team since 2021. Currently, Verstappen is signed with Red Bull for 2026, but his teammate is unknown. With the internal politics at Red Bull, their current leadership change, and driver contracts expiring, the decision for Verstappen’s teammate is heating up.
Verstappen is often known as the “teammate killer” in F1. Anyone who is his teammate struggles to compete in his shadow and usually only lasts a couple of seasons at Red Bull. Verstappen will always be the priority driver, and Red Bull’s second driver often can’t compete at the same level he does. Red Bull still has not decided who will be their second driver next year and who can handle the pressure of driving alongside Verstappen.
Red Bull’s current second driver is Yuki Tsunoda. He was promoted from Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, just two races into the 2025 season after Liam Lawson struggled to adapt to the car and provide consistent points for the team. So far, Tsunoda is 17th in the drivers' rankings with 20 points. He has only scored points at five of the 18 races so far, and his highest finish was 6th in Azerbaijan. Based on how quickly Lawson was demoted, Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull may be running out.
A promising option for Red Bull is rookie Isack Hadjar on the Racing Bulls team. He is one of the best performing first-year drivers and is currently 9th in the rankings. At the Netherlands Grand Prix, he earned his first career podium with a third-place finish. In the chaotic race, Hadjar showed his professionalism and ability to stay focused in tough situations. He has delivered consistent results and is proving why he deserves to be Verstappen’s teammate next year.
There is always the possibility that Red Bull could make a wild card decision that fans or drivers don’t see coming. Two of the Red Bull Junior Team drivers are in the top 10 for the Formula 2 rankings. Red Bull could decide they want to take a risk on a rookie like they did with Lawson last year. They could also look at the free agents or current unsigned drivers to fill the second seat. Currently, George Russell has not renewed his contract at Mercedes and could be looking for a change of teams.
As one of the most important seats in F1 remains unfilled, the pressure to sign a driver is building for Red Bull. The choice is more than just picking a driver, but choosing someone who can shape Red Bull’s identity in 2026 as they hope to earn the Constructors' Championship title back from McLaren. Picking a driver strong enough to be Verstappen’s teammate is a careful choice. Whoever earns that second seat will be racing for podiums and to prove they can thrive in the shadow of a champion at Red Bull.
