Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has dropped the strongest hint yet at who could line up alongside Max Verstappen in 2026, with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar now firmly in contention after his breakthrough Dutch Grand Prix podium.
Hadjar delivered a composed and measured drive at Zandvoort, fending off repeated attacks from Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc before securing a maiden Formula 1 podium.
Benefiting from Lando Norris’ late engine failure, the 20-year-old Frenchman converted fourth on the grid into a career-defining third-place finish.
The performance caught Marko’s attention, particularly at a time when current Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda is under growing pressure to secure his future with the team.
“He has to get closer to Max and deliver that level of performance consistently,” Marko said after the race.
“That’s why we’ve postponed the option dates further back. We’ll look at the upcoming races, and then a decision will be made. I would say around Mexico.”
That ultimatum leaves Tsunoda with just six more races to prove himself before Red Bull decides its 2026 line-up.
Since replacing Liam Lawson at the Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda has endured a torrid run of results in the second Red Bull, the worst in the team’s 21-year history.
Across 13 races, he has managed just 12 points, compared to Verstappen’s 214, and currently sits 19th in the standings.
His results tell the story:
| Grand Prix | Finishing Position | Gap to Max Verstappen |
| Japan | 12th | +58.4s |
| Bahrain | 9th | +10.6s |
| Saudi Arabia | DNF (collision with Gasly) | N/A |
| Miami | 10th | +34.4s |
| Emilia Romagna | 10th | +26.4s |
| Monaco | 17th | 2 laps |
| Spain | 13th | +7s |
| Canada | 12th | 1 lap |
| Austria | 16th | 2 laps down (Verstappen DNF) |
| Great Britain | 15th (last place) | 1 lap down |
| Belgium | 13th | +53.6s |
| Hungary | 17th | 1 lap |
| Netherlands | 9th | +12.3s |
Eight of those races finished outside the points, including a stretch of seven consecutive scoreless weekends.
Despite receiving the same-spec car as Verstappen from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards, including a new floor upgrade at Spa that briefly lifted his qualifying pace, Tsunoda’s struggles have continued. He has looked increasingly dejected in the paddock, a far cry from his previously energetic persona.
While Tsunoda falters, Hadjar’s recent results also dived after three consecutive point finishes.
Since the Canadian Grand Prix, the Frenchman’s form has been mixed: 12th, 12th, DNF, 20th, and 11th, but his breakthrough podium at Zandvoort demonstrated maturity beyond his years, proving that the string of disappointing results hadn’t dented his confidence or composure.
“He had to fight pretty hard for it,” Marko told Autosport after the Dutch Grand Prix.
“I saw Russell attack him several times, and Leclerc too. They really tried, but he stayed calm. He didn’t do anything wrong. So yeah, there’s a good one coming.”
Marko also praised Hadjar’s mental strength. “On Friday, with his engine problems, he wasn’t affected. He said, ‘I have the speed, I will qualify in the top five.’ And then he did it.”
Hadjar himself has been cautious about discussing a Red Bull promotion.
After his podium, he walked away mid-interview when pressed on the subject, though he did respond: “I’m ready for anything,” before walking away.
Just two months earlier at the Canadian Grand Prix, he admitted he wasn’t ready, describing the prospect of a Red Bull seat as “a bit scary.” The Zandvoort result, however, appears to have shifted his confidence.
Tsunoda’s situation is further complicated by comparisons to Liam Lawson, who was dropped after just two races despite achieving similar results.
Unlike Tsunoda, Lawson largely avoided major mistakes during his brief Red Bull stint, though he did crash out of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix in treacherous conditions, an incident that also claimed five other drivers.
By comparison, Tsunoda’s run has included a dramatic rollover crash in qualifying at Imola, a collision with Pierre Gasly in Saudi Arabia, and another heavy accident during FP2 that same weekend, giving his record a far more error-strewn appearance. Tsunoda has also been under fire with incidents involving contact with Franco Colapinto at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Lawson has since continued to impress with Racing Bulls, finishing sixth and eighth in consecutive races before Zandvoort. There, after a clash with Carlos Sainz dropped him to 19th, he fought back to finish 12th. He currently sits 15th in the driver standings, holding an eight-point advantage over Tsunoda.
With team principal Laurent Mekies believed to be pushing for patience, Tsunoda has been given until the Mexican Grand Prix to turn his season around. But with Hadjar already delivering standout performances and Red Bull’s reputation for swift decision-making, the Japanese driver faces an uphill battle.
Marko’s message is clear: consistency and speed are the only metrics that matter. And right now, Isack Hadjar looks like the man best placed to deliver them alongside Verstappen in 2026.
Header Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
