Four Drivers in Contention for Red Bull and Racing Bulls 2026 Seats, Confirms Permane

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has revealed that four drivers remain in contention for the two available Red Bull F1 seats for next season, as the energy drink giant finalises its 2026 driver lineup.

With just four race weekends left in the 2025 campaign, both Red Bull Racing and their junior outfit Racing Bulls are nearing decision time on who will partner Max Verstappen at the main team and who will drive for the Faenza-based squad next year.

Verstappen Locked In, But Who Joins Him?

Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull earlier this season, ending speculation about a possible switch to Mercedes. However, the identity of his 2026 teammate remains undecided, with several candidates still under evaluation.

By design, Racing Bulls serves as a proving ground for drivers from the Red Bull talent pool, grooming them for eventual promotion to the senior team.

Both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have had opportunities alongside Verstappen in 2025, but neither stint has delivered the standout performances Red Bull had hoped for. As a result, both drivers’ futures and their roles within the organisation are now under review.

Lawson’s Return, Lindblad’s Rise

After being demoted back to Racing Bulls following just two races with Red Bull earlier this season, Lawson has since settled back into the junior team. While consistent, his earlier struggles alongside Verstappen have raised doubts about whether he can return to the top seat.

Meanwhile, Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, just 18 years old, has emerged as a serious contender for promotion. The British driver impressed during his FP1 outing at the Mexican Grand Prix, stepping in for Verstappen and earning praise from both the team and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

Decision Looms After Mexico

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 following the Mexican Grand Prix, Permane confirmed that the team’s driver decisions will be made in the coming weeks.

“It is correct in as much as it will be after Mexico,” Permane said. “I don’t know if it will be after Brazil or Las Vegas, so don’t take it too literally! There’s five drivers. We know for sure Max won’t be in our car. It’ll be two out of the other four, is what I would say at the moment. We are still looking at things.”

Permane added that both Red Bull and Racing Bulls remain focused on their ongoing constructors’ battles, with stability taking priority over speculation.

“Both teams are in a reasonably tight constructors’ battle, so us not talking about drivers for next year is helping that stability,” he explained.

The Candidates

While Permane did not name the four drivers explicitly, the shortlist is understood to include Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, Arvid Lindblad, with the fourth driver up for debate.

With the season’s final rounds in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the next few weeks could prove decisive for Red Bull’s driver structure and for the futures of several key members of its talent ladder.

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