Formula 1 Qatar GP
Red Bull confirms Tuesday announcement on 2026 F1 driver line-ups
Laurent Mekies says Red Bull will reveal its 2026 Formula1 driver line-ups before the season finale in Abu Dhabi
Filip Cleeren Ronald Vording
Edited: Dec 1, 2025, 7:38 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Red Bull will reveal its 2026 season driver line-up across its two teams on Tuesday, team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies has confirmed.
Red Bull initially planned to make its final decision on its driver line-ups by the end of November, but it since backtracked on it as it had second thoughts on its final Racing Bulls seat.
Isack Hadjar is expected to be promoted to the main Red Bull team to partner Max Verstappen, while junior driver Arvid Lindblad is set to take the Frenchman's vacant berth at Racing Bulls.
That leaves one Racing Bulls seat up for grabs for Liam Lawson, who looked set to have done enough to retain his place in recent months, or Verstappen's struggling Red Bull partner Yuki Tsunoda.
When asked about Red bull's plans after the Qatar Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies confirmed a decision will be made on Tuesday, so whoever misses out gets a send-off in Abu Dhabi and its looming decision doesn't become a distraction while Verstappen mounts an outside title bid.
"All I can tell you is that we will in fact stick to our plan and we will announce on Tuesday what the driver line-up is," Mekies said. "We are confident it will not disturb the focus in Abu Dhabi."
Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda squabbled over the Red Bull organisation's final seat on the 2026 grid
Photo by: Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Following Verstappen's win in Qatar, another victory in Abu Dhabi could yet swing the 2025 title battle his way if Norris fails to finish higher than fourth. Any help from Tsunoda in the second car, which as of yet has not been forthcoming, could make the difference between a spectacular fifth world championship for the Dutchman or a maiden title for Norris or Oscar Piastri, who also has a mathematical chance.
"It could be down to the last point. It could be mega important," Mekies said, as he acknowledged the team's need to have Tsunoda in the mix, as he was in Saturday's sprint in Qatar. "You have seen today Lando fall back into the pack behind Kimi [Antonelli] and Carlos [Sainz], but he was very close to falling back behind Fernando [Alonso] and the other guys where Yuki potentially was.
"It will be super important to have Yuki at 100%. He has done a strong weekend with us. Strong on Friday, strong in the sprint, P5. Yes, he got kicked out of Q1, but that was only three-tenths off Max. There are a lot of guys that would be happy to be three tenths off Max in qualifying.
"So, he has done a strong weekend. We need another strong weekend in Abu Dhabi, because everything will be needed."
Photos from Qatar GP - Race
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Qatar GP - Sunday, in photos
Formula 1
60
Read Also:
Formula 1Toto Wolff blasts Helmut Marko on Kimi Antonelli letting by Lando Norris: "Utter nonsense"
Formula 1Has McLaren just scored an own goal in Qatar GP? Our writers have their say
Formula 1How the 2025 F1 title can be won, or lost, at Abu Dhabi GP
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Charles Leclerc fears bleak F1 winter after brutal Qatar GP leaves him frustrated
Next article ‘Are you sure you want to pit?’ – How Red Bull nearly fell into the same trap as McLaren
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
Formula 1 8 h
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1 17 h
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
More from
Max Verstappen
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 d
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
The hidden factor that gives Max Verstappen and Red Bull extra hope for 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 d
The hidden factor that gives Max Verstappen and Red Bull extra hope for 2027
More from
Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
14 h
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Christian Horner “wasn’t given a reason” for his “painful” Red Bull exit after Dietrich Mateschitz’s death
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
17 h
Christian Horner “wasn’t given a reason” for his “painful” Red Bull exit after Dietrich Mateschitz’s death
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
4 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 4 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe