The Red Bull driver line-up for 2026 will be confirmed closer to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as the team prioritizes Max Verstappen’s championship campaign. Both Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies have confirmed that the timeline has shifted, giving Red Bull more time to evaluate its driver pool — including Arvid Lindblad, who impressed during his FP1 outing in Mexico.
Decision Moved Closer to Season End
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had earlier called the Mexican Grand Prix a key reference point for future driver decisions. However, after Lando Norris took victory, Marko revealed to Motorsport.com that plans have changed.
“We postponed our decision until the end of the season, because first we want to focus on the championship fight,” he said.
When asked if this means the final decision would only come after the season finale, Marko clarified: “No, but it will be around Abu Dhabi. We will just focus on the championship first.”
Red Bull Wants More Time for Evaluation
Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that announcements will indeed arrive before Abu Dhabi, but said the team is taking longer than originally planned.
“We want to take a bit more time before we make a decision on the drivers. Yuki [Tsunoda] is making steps forward, and the other kids are making steps forward as well,” Mekies said. “We have no reason to rush the decision, so we will take a bit more time.”
Red Bull’s relaxed stance is due to all drivers being under Red Bull contracts, allowing flexibility to reshuffle between Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls at any point. Each driver has already been informed about the extended timeline and asked to remain cooperative.
Data-Driven Approach Before Final Call
“For the decision, we accept that everyone would like us to decide soon. But we are not in a rush. We will take all the time we need,” Mekies added. “And we will give these guys as many chances as they can have to demonstrate on track who are the best drivers.”
The extended timeline not only eases pressure during Verstappen’s title run but also lets the team gather additional performance data before committing to the 2026 pairings.
Lindblad Earns Praise After FP1 in Mexico
Among the standout performers is Arvid Lindblad, who impressed Red Bull’s management with his composed FP1 performance in Mexico.
“I think he did a great job. It’s so difficult to step up in FP1. It’s very different these days, as you don’t have many tyres and you don’t have many laps. But he did a very good job. You have seen all the timesheets by yourself, but he was very calm and gave all the right feedback. He didn’t put the foot wrong, and he didn’t break the car!” Mekies said with a laugh.
Lindblad is expected to get another FP1 outing before the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test, where he’ll gain more valuable Formula 1 experience.
Internal Picture Becoming Clear
Even as Marko and Mekies maintain that decisions are still under review, the internal direction seems more defined. Isack Hadjar remains the favourite to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing in 2026, while Lindblad is leading the race for a Racing Bulls seat.
Despite a mixed F2 campaign, Red Bull’s leadership has reportedly placed greater emphasis on Lindblad’s F1 sessions and technical feedback rather than his F2 championship standings, believing those better reflect his real potential.
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