Who will be Max Verstappen's new team-mate?

The Formula 1 silly season has quietened since Max Verstappen confirmed he will stick with Red Bull for 2026. 

The Dutchman was linked with a move to Mercedes for next season, but announced his commitment to Red Bull during the recent Hungarian GP. It seals one side of the Austrian outfit's garage, with the other remaining up in the air. 

Yuki Tsunoda's contract is due to expire at the end of the year, and an extension is yet to be offered to the Japanese driver. 

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has long believed in young talent, and has been eager to hand them opportunities. In theory, Tsunoda could return to Racing Bulls next year; however, that does not appear to be an obvious option. 

Isack Hadjar is likely the next in line to be handed a promotion to partner Verstappen, following an excellent debut campaign so far for the sister squad. The French-Algerian has impressed Marko, although no decision on which team he will race for in 2026 has been made. 

For Hadjar to assure himself a Red Bull seat for the first season of the new power unit regulations, he will need to continue performing against Liam Lawson. 

Lawson has shown considerable improvement in the final rounds before the summer break, having initially struggled following his Red Bull demotion after two races.

Lawson an outsider?

Lawson is very much an outsider for an immediate return to Red Bull, with his primary goal being to retain his seat within the Faenza-based outfit.

Hadjar, it would appear, is very much the frontrunner for the second seat alongside Verstappen, but most beat a motivated Lawson to convince the team to drop Tsunoda. 

Tsunoda has struggled since replacing Lawson, and is currently on the longest point-less streak of any driver in the Milton Keynes-based team's history. Despite this, improvements have been made, offering a small glimmer of hope for the final 10 rounds.

A new deal for the Japanese driver is not impossible, although another driver could get in his way: Arvid Lindblad.

Red Bull's junior star is producing a solid maiden campaign in Formula 2, and has already conducted TPCs (Testing of Previous Cars) for the outfit. It could be decided that a second season in F2 is the way to go, whilst an F1 promotion is the other option.

Lindblad promotion

Should Red Bull and Marko want to promote Lindblad, a driver will have to be sacrificed. It has not yet been decided who that could be, with Verstappen being the only safe driver.

There is, another external factor involved. Whilst it is currently not plausible, a return of Alex Albon should never be completely ruled out. 

Albon has a good relationship with Red Bull owner Chalerm Yoovidhya and the Thai would love to see the Williams driver back alongside Verstappen. 

For now, Albon has every confidence in James Vowles' project at Williams and does not see himself leaving the Grove-based team in the short-term.

Given Albon's experience and development in recent years, experienced management forces within Red Bull would not be against the Williams star returning. However, for now, it is off the table.

Whilst Tsunoda, Lawson and Hadjar head into the final 10 rounds with their futures on the line, Hadjar currently appears to be the favourite to partner Verstappen next year.