Red Bull finalise F1 driver decision timeline — and rule out former McLaren talent

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has confirmed the team will decide its 2026 F1 driver line-ups after the Mexico City Grand Prix.

It has already been established that Max Verstappen is staying put next year, and despite considerable speculation earlier this season that he could seek pastures new, his current contract runs until the end of the 2028 campaign.

However, who will join him at the Milton Keynes-based squad is still unknown. It is also unclear who will occupy both Racing Bulls seats as F1 embarks on a new regulations era.

Isack Hadjar has a contract for 2026, but it has not yet been announced if he will remain where he is, or be promoted to partner Verstappen.

For Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, the situation is even less certain. Both are fighting for their survival at the joint teams — and for their F1 futures.

Although they will soon learn of their fates, with Marko telling Kleine Zeitung that all will be finalised after the trip to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which comes directly after this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

"We'll make our decision after Mexico," the 82-year-old confirmed ahead of the round at the Circuit of the Americas.

Hadjar has impressed during his rookie campaign and picked up a maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Marko had already revealed that the 21-year-old will be racing in F1 next season. "Isack has established himself and is currently enjoying his situation," the Austrian said. "He's achieved incredible things."

Whilst he did not address Lawson — who endured the worst weekend of his F1 career at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he twice crashed his VCARB 02 in practice session-ending mistakes that significantly hampered his weekend — Marko did reflect on Tsunoda.

Since Laurent Mekies assumed the mantle at Red Bull, the Japanese driver has been more broadly considered, which helped him to a high point with the team, sixth-place in Baku.

Although it is worth highlighting that Lawson did finish ahead of the 25-year-old on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in fifth position.

"They paid more attention to him, which has brought some success," Marko said of Tsunoda. "He knows he still needs results."

Alex Dunne ruled out

Either Lawson or Tsunoda will only find themself on the outside looking in if Red Bull decides to take a gamble on F2 driver and junior programme member Arvid Lindblad.

Whether the six-time constructors' champions elevate him to a full-time seat at Racing Bulls remains to be seen, but Marko does believe he is ready for the challenge.

"Generally speaking, yes," he replied when asked if the 18-year-old is ready for F1. "He's just younger than Hadjar.

"And we've seen in the past that age plays a role in Formula 1. But generally speaking, he's another one of our hopes. We'll see him in the car this year, too."

In recent weeks, a dark horse option emerged in former McLaren academy prospect Alex Dunne, who is believed to have engaged in talks with Marko.

That speculation was only strengthened in Singapore when the Irishman and the papaya team suddenly parted ways.

However, as reported by RacingNews365, Red Bull's interest has cooled, with Marko now stating he is "not an option" for the team, even in a reserve role, as suggested.