Who Will Fill the Final Four Seats of the 2026 F1 Grid?
As the 2025 Formula 1 season enters its final stretch with only four races left, attention is shifting toward 2026. With just four seats left unconfirmed across the grid, anticipation is building around Red Bull and Alpine’s yet-to-be-finalized lineups. The key questions center on who will partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull, which two drivers will secure spots at Racing Bulls, and who will join Pierre Gasly at Alpine. The answers to these questions could shape the next generation of F1 talent.
The Open Red Bull Seat: Hadjar vs. Tsunoda
The biggest question mark sits alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. While Yuki Tsunoda currently holds the second seat, rookie Isack Hadjar has emerged as a serious contender after an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls. Hadjar, competing in a junior-level car and with far less Formula 1 experience, has outperformed Tsunoda this season, scoring 39 points to Tsunoda’s 28. Beyond the numbers, Hadjar has shown composure and consistency rare for a first-year driver, regularly delivering in both qualifying and races. Originally, Red Bull planned to announce its 2026 lineup at the Mexican Grand Prix, but the decision has been postponed, likely signaling internal debate. However, given Hadjar’s trajectory and Tsunoda’s diminishing results, Hadjar now appears the favorite to be promoted to the senior team, joining Verstappen in one of the most coveted seats in motorsport.
The Racing Bulls Dilemma: Tsunoda, Lawson, and Lindblad
Red Bull’s driver shuffle will have a direct impact on its sister team, Racing Bulls. If Hadjar moves up, the question becomes whether Tsunoda stays within the Red Bull family. Liam Lawson, who has scored 30 points to Tsunoda’s 28, remains in contention to stay with Racing Bulls, particularly if Hadjar is promoted. Tsunoda, meanwhile, could be demoted back to the B-team, but his long-standing connection to Honda complicates matters. With Red Bull’s partnership with Honda ending after the 2025 season, Tsunoda may lose the manufacturer backing that helped secure his place on the grid. Adding another layer of intrigue is Arvid Lindblad, a rising star in Formula 2 and part of the Red Bull Junior Team. If the program wants to continue promoting young talent, Lindblad could be next in line for a Racing Bulls seat. Speculation around the Racing Bulls' decision is around Lawson remaining with the team and Lindblad being promoted to the seat. However, the performances of Lawson, Tsunoda, and Lindblad throughout the remainder of 2025 will likely determine the final configuration.
Alpine’s Second Seat: The Pool of Reserve Drivers
The final open seat for 2026 sits at Alpine, alongside Pierre Gasly. Alpine’s 2025 campaign has been marked by instability, with the team cycling through multiple drivers for its second car after a rough start to the season. Jack Doohan began the year in the seat but was replaced after only six races. His successor, Franco Colapinto, has struggled to replicate his earlier Williams form, failing to score a single point this season. Team principal Flavio Briatore has since suggested that he may have placed too much pressure on the young Argentine, hinting that Colapinto could get another shot. Meanwhile, Doohan has returned to reserve duties, joined by Paul Aron and Kush Maini. Aron, however, stands out as the most credible internal contender. The Estonian impressed in F2, leading the 2024 championship before narrowly losing to Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar. Additionally, Aron has performed solidly in FP1 sessions with both Sauber and Alpine. His steady development and adaptability could make him the best option if Alpine wants to build for the future. If Alpine instead opts for experience, it could look beyond its own talent pool. Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson could emerge as potential targets if either is displaced from the Red Bull system. Gasly’s prior rapport with Tsunoda during their AlphaTauri days could influence that decision, though Briatore might favor Lawson’s aggressive and composed racecraft.
