Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand F1 driver IAN BUNDEY / MPS AGENCY © / PHOTOSPORT
Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane says it is likely a decision on their 2026 driver line-up won’t be made until this season ends.
In September, Red Bull indicated that a decision on the line-up for both teams for next season would be made after the Mexico Grand Prix (26 October).
They then announced that the decision would be delayed.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is the only driver in the Red Bull stable contracted through until 2028, however the other three seats (in Red Bull and Racing Bulls) are unconfirmed for 2026.
Commentators have said that Frenchman Isack Hadjar is likely to be promoted to Red Bull, while current Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson, and Red Bulls F2 driver Arvid Lindblad are the contenders for the two Racing Bulls seats.
It had also been suggested that the delay might be because of the new regulations coming in next year. The team has to decide which drivers would be best suited to adapt quickly to the new cars. But Permane told Motorsport.com that was not the issue.
“We are in a very tight battle ourselves [for sixth], but also, Red Bull are in a very tight battle in their constructors’ championship [battle for second],” Permane said.
“We just want to have some stability, and that may well go on right until the end of the season. So you may not find out until Monday morning after Abu Dhabi (the final round).
“I don’t know exactly when it’ll be, but that’s the reason. It’s nothing to do with next year’s rules.”
Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, 2025. ALESSIO MORGESE / AFP
The regulation changes for 2026 may count against Lindblad, who is currently seventh in the 2025 F2 standings.
Lawson and Hadjar have so far scored 82 points for Racing Bulls in 2025, with the team sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Continuity as teams go through extensive simulation work in the off season is likely to be key.
“You always want the experienced driver. We see with James [Vowles at Williams] and his two super-experienced drivers, they hit the ground running pretty much every weekend,” Permane told Motorsport.com.
“And that’s not to take anything away from our guys, but experience always counts. Nothing beats pace, obviously. So you have to have that pace there. It will undoubtedly help for next year.
“On the other hand, you could look at it and say, well, everyone’s starting from a clean sheet of paper.”
Formula 1 heads to Las Vegas this week. The last two rounds are in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Lawson is 14th in the driver standings, seven points behind Hadjar and eight points ahead of Tsunoda.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
