Red Bull announces Yuki Tsunoda’s departure for 2026 and promotes Hadjar alongside Verstappen By Janderson Luiz
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The Red Bull team announced this Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Doha, in Catar, the changes in the driver lineup for the 2026 season of the Max Verstappen, four-time world champion. The decision comes one day after the Catar GP, with the aim of strengthening competitiveness under new technical rules.
Verstappen, championship leader with 396 of the team’s 426 points, remains the pillar, while Hadjar, a standout in sister team Racing Bulls with 51 points and a podium in the Holanda GP, takes on the challenge. Tsunoda, promoted in April after the Japão GP, did not score in the top 5 in any main race.
Racing Bulls, in turn, keeps Liam Lawson, a 23-year-old New Zealander, and promotes the British-Swedish Arvid Lindblad, 18 years old, directly from Fórmula 2.
The announcement reinforces the renewal strategy of the Red Bull, which ended the year in third place in the constructors, behind McLaren.
Performance of Tsunoda on Red Bull in 2025
Tsunoda took over the main driver in April, replacing Liam Lawson after two points-free opening races. The Japanese completed 18 GPs, but faced difficulties adapting to the RB21 car.
His best placing came in Sprint of Catar, in fourth place, but in the main races, the maximum achieved was eighth place, in Silverstone. The team prioritized supporting Verstappen in the title fight, which limited risk opportunities for Tsunoda.
- Total points: 28, against 396 for Verstappen.
- Poles: Nenhuma, with average qualifications in 12th.
- Abandonment due to mechanical failure: Três times, including Mônaco and Spa.
These numbers highlight the internal disparity, influenced by the departure of Honda as a driving partner at the end of 2025.
Rise of Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull structure
Hadjar debuted in F1 in Racing Bulls in 2025, after runner-up in Fórmula 2 in 2024. The Frenchman accumulated 51 points in 20 races, with a podium in Zandvoort and top 10 in nine GPs.
His consistency on technical tracks, such as Monza and Interlagos, caught the attention of bosses. Laurent Mekies, CEO of Red Bull, praised the pilot’s maturity in post-Qatar interviews.
The promotion reflects the focus on internal talent, with Hadjar signing a three-year contract. Ele tested the lead car in free sessions at México, recording the sixth best time overall.
Retention of Liam Lawson and debut of Lindblad
Lawson returns to Racing Bulls after a brief stint at the main in February and March. The New Zealander scored points in 15 of the 20 races, including ninth in the Catar GP.
His early post-dismissal resilience strengthened the position, with starting averages ranking 11th. The team sees him as a benchmark for young talent.
Lindblad, sixth in F2 with four victories, receives a super license exemption at the age of 17. The Anglo-Swedish impressed in free tests at México, surpassing Tsunoda in pace.
- Victories in F2: Quatro, in Barcelona, Silverstone, Hungaroring and Monza.
- Times in FP1: Sexto in México, ahead of current drivers.
- Age at debut: 18 years and 4 months, youngest since Verstappen in 2015.
This duo aims to balance experience and speed in the secondary team.
Red Bull strategy for the new rules of 2026
The changes occur amid the transition to sustainable hybrid engines in 2026. Red Bull, with a confirmed Ford partnership, seeks to align pilots with this technical evolution.
Mekies highlighted the importance of cohesion in the announcement, made 24 hours after Catar, avoiding distractions in the Abu Dhabi GP. Verstappen enters the final 12 points behind Lando Norris.
Tsunoda, without an immediate vacancy, negotiates reserve paper, including TPC tests with Honda. Outras options, such as IndyCar, appear in rumors, but the focus remains on F1.
The decision affects the market, with all seats on the other nine teams filled.
Impact on the constructors’ championship
Red Bull adds 426 points in 2025, with Verstappen responsible for 93% of the score. Hadjar and Lawson contributed more to their sister, with 51 and 33 points, respectively.
- Final classification: McLaren champion with 580, Ferrari in second with 512.
- Contribution of Tsunoda: Menos of 7% of the total principal.
- Projection for 2026: Ênfase in balanced pairs to maximize points.
This data guided the reformulation, prioritizing collective performance.
Preparation for the Abu Dhabi GP
Verstappen tests final configurations on Yas Marina, with Hadjar participating in a shakedown on Racing Bulls. Tsunoda focuses on tactical support, targeting decisive points.
The circuit, stage of the final on December 8th at 2pm local time (11am Brasília), requires strategy in high curves. Lawson and Lindblad simulate scenarios in Fiorano.
The Red Bull lines up aerodynamic updates for last weekend, testing elements for 2026.
Context of internal negotiations
Discussions involved Helmut Marko, pilot consultant, in meetings at Catar. Tsunoda met with executives, but the preference for renewal prevailed.
Hadjar, an agent at the Red Bull academy since 2022, has accelerated the schedule with consistent results. Lindblad, hired in 2023, jumps stages after dominating in F2.
Lawson, under contract until 2026, gains extension based on reliability metrics.
The structure prioritizes vertical progression, with 70% of pilots promoted internally in the last five years.
