Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Formula 1
Josh Lawless
Red Bull have reportedly already come to a decision for which driver will be given the boot as part of a major shake-up for the 2026 season.
Red Bull are fourth in the team standings for the 2025 season, with Max Verstappen third in the drivers' rankings after an excellent display saw him take the chequered flag at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza for his 66th career victory.
The 2026 campaign will include an extensive list of regulation changes which promise to transform the sport, with Red Bull gunning to be back in title contention once again.
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It has been reported that there will be wholesale changes within the energy drinks outfit, including a new teammate for Verstappen.
As per a report from auto motor sport, it is an "open secret" that 20-year-old Isack Hadjar will be promoted from sister team Racing Bulls after an impressive start to F1 and a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.
In addition, Red Bull chiefs are poised to give 18-year-old Brit Arvid Lindblad a chance in F1 following a fine run in F2, with a place in the Racing Bulls cockpit on the cards.
However, the two driver changes will mean that one of the current crop - Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are relieved of their duties at Red Bull.
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Lawson started the 2025 season with Red Bull and Tsunoda with Racing Bulls but the pair swapped places just two races in.
Between them, the pair have accred a mere 32 world championship points in an underwhelming return.
But according to a report from GPBlog back in July, Red Bull are set to make Tsunoda surplus to requirements by deciding against extending his contract - which is believed to be on the verge of expiring.
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It was speculated that Tsunoda could potentially make the move to Aston Martin given Japanese engine supplier Honda will be leaving Red Bull to become their partner in 2026 - though the pathway might be tricky as no positions are currently available.
Verstappen has been heavily linked with a switch to Mercedes but has confirmed his commitment to Red Bull for the 2026 season.
And the Dutchman has been playing a central role in the process of creating a new engine alongside Ford to make the car even faster.
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"Max is doing a lot more than just asking for the numbers," Laurent Mekies explained to the official Formula One website.
"You would be surprised. Max is giving so much to the projects also outside of the car.
“He’s not just asking the numbers, he’s testing the car in the simulators, he’s working with engineers on both sides of the fence to understand how do we develop these 2026 cars? "Where do we try to get the power? Where do we try to get the downforce?
“So, that's how central to the project he is. He certainly wants a fast car next year, and he’s doing everything he can in the car and outside the car to help us give him that.”