Red Bull stance on promoting Isack Hadjar as Max Verstappen team-mate decision looms

Red Bull have yet to make a decision over their driver plans for the 2026 Formula 1 season, Mirror Sport understands. That is despite reports from European news outlets this week claiming Isack Hadjar has been selected to partner Max Verstappen next year.

German magazine Auto Motor und Sport led with claims that the Frenchman has been told he will be promoted at the end of the season. Hadjar has had an impressive rookie season so far, the highlight of which was a spectacular podium at Zandvoort last month.

His form is believed to have made him the likeliest partner for Verstappen, the only Red Bull driver who has a contract beyond the current season, in 2026. But it is understood no decision has yet been made on that front.

And the same is true for sister team Racing Bulls. The AMuS report also suggested British teenager Arvid Lindblad is assured of a promotion from Formula 2 into Hadjar's seat, but this is also believed to be a premature claim.

Such a scenario would leave Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda as the two drivers competing for the final race seat available at Racing Bulls. As it stands, sources suggest the Kiwi remaining in his current position is a more likely outcome than Tsunoda accepting a demotion back to the junior squad, though neither outcome has been ruled out.

Hadjar faced plenty of questions about his future in Baku on Thursday and responded with a smirk as he dismissed any suggestion that his 2026 plans are set in stone. Asked if he knows for which team he will race in 2026, he bluntly replied: "I don't."

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Pressed on whether he had seen the stories claiming he has been selected as Verstappen's team-mate for next season, he smiled as he said: "I did, and I think it is very funny, because I did not sign anything."

Though Hadjar has been the most impressive of all Red Bull drivers other than Verstappen this year, it does not guarantee that he will be promoted next year. Several young racers have wilted under the pressure of partnering the Dutchman and new team principal Laurent Mekies wants to avoid falling into the same trap.

Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and even Lawson earlier this year are examples of drivers who buckled under the pressure when promoted with too little F1 experience. Red Bull have high hopes for Hadjar and Mekies may yet decide to allow him to hone his skills for another year at Racing Bulls before making the step up.

In any case, there is little pressure on the Frenchman to make any swift decisions. Other than the Red Bull teams, Alpine are the only outfit with a race seat still unconfirmed for 2026 with Franco Colapinto fighting for his future as he remains pointless so far in the current campaign.