Because it stands, Crimson Bull has but to resolve find out how to order its Method 1 drivers – and it’ll probably take a number of extra weeks earlier than a press launch is issued naming who will companion Max Verstappen on the senior workforce in 2026 and what the Racing Bulls duo shall be. It’s a standard behavior within the F1 paddock for a workforce principal to declare it’s ‘a superb downside to have’ when there’s multiple candidate for a seat – implying that any of the choices are enticing.
Taking Verstappen out of the equation, it seems that Crimson Bull has 4 drivers for the three remaining seats – but this example doesn’t truly match the “good downside” label, as not one of the choices seems to be significantly thrilling.
Because the deadline looms, with Helmut Marko confirming the choice is due “round” the Mexico GP in late October, an overview of Crimson Bull’s pondering has already taken form: paddock hearsay means that Isack Hadjar is poised for a promotion. German publication Auto Motor und Sport reported forward of the Azerbaijan GP that the younger Frenchman is ready for a transfer to the senior workforce, having impressed his bosses in his rookie season with Racing Bulls – and Motorsport.com sources affirm he’s certainly thought of the perfect candidate to companion Verstappen in 2026. The identical was reported in the course of the Baku weekend by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, near the world champion’s camp.
It seems that, though no last choice has been made, Helmut Marko and co are near thrusting Hadjar into F1’s most uncomfortable seat.
The pondering is considerably comprehensible: Yuki Tsunoda has largely didn’t ship since his promotion and solely after Baku did the Japanese driver elevate himself from nineteenth place within the general standings. For fairly a number of weeks the Crimson Bull driver was forward of solely the 2 Alpine drivers, Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto, who’re nonetheless the one ones to have scored a single level this 12 months. No additional clarification is required to achieve a conclusion: Tsunoda isn’t precisely what a workforce with Crimson Bull’s ambitions wants.
Hadjar, in the meantime, delivered a podium end with Racing Bulls – one thing neither the Japanese nor Liam Lawson managed to do with the senior squad, not even shut.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
So, whereas Crimson Bull insists no choice on Tsunoda has been taken but, the phrase within the paddock is that the Japanese racer is not combating to maintain the Crimson Bull seat however in the end battling to remain on the grid completely – with a comeback to the Faenza-based workforce nonetheless on the playing cards.
This isn’t assured, although, as Crimson Bull can also be evaluating whether or not Arvid Lindblad is able to step as much as F1 following his Method 2 marketing campaign. The junior’s outcomes counsel the reply is not any, however F2 has lately change into a difficult class for sound judgments, with each Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli promoted to F1 regardless of clear struggles within the sequence.
It’s believed Marko is satisfied sufficient by Lindblad’s expertise to not pay an excessive amount of consideration to his difficult F2 marketing campaign – and there’s a superb probability he’ll nonetheless be promoted to Racing Bulls subsequent 12 months, leaving both Tsunoda or Lawson with out a place.
However what seems to be like a plan is much from being a “good downside” – and the nearer the supposed deadline for the choice, the more durable it will get to make the decision, as all drivers within the equation fail to supply clear reference factors. The weekend in Baku was a first-rate instance.
Hadjar had a typical rookie weekend. Whereas quick all through, the Frenchman made two errors, in each qualifying and the race. The primary got here on his last try on Saturday, when he was on a lap that might even have earned him a front-row begin – however a lack of eight tenths within the last nook dropped him to eighth general. The following day, a mistake in the identical nook price him two positions. Forgivable for a rookie, however not perfect for somebody edging near a top-team promotion.
It was Lawson who impressed in Baku: qualifying third, being considered one of only a few drivers to ship a superb lap within the chaotic closing phases of the session, after which ending fifth within the race. A greater demonstration that Lawson isn’t accomplished with F1 is difficult to think about.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Group, Yuki Tsunoda, Crimson Bull Racing Group
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Photos
Tsunoda, on the similar time, delivered a primary pattern of what he might probably supply Crimson Bull sooner or later. Ending sixth isn’t precisely a stellar efficiency, however it was additionally one of many first weekends he had the identical materials as Verstappen. And even when it’s nonetheless not what’s required from a high driver, a minimum of Tsunoda is beginning to present indicators of promise.
It’s in that context which Lindblad’s F2 performances should come into play. The Crimson Bull junior scored simply 30 factors throughout the final 4 weekends – and there’s little he can do to make up for it in time for Crimson Bull’s choice, as the subsequent spherical of the championship will happen in Qatar in late November. The Anglo-Swedish driver has made a superb impression on the simulator, however there’s no proof he represents a greater choice than any of the opposite drivers. One other season in F2 would undoubtedly not damage.
Whereas paddock rumours counsel Lindblad will nonetheless get his promotion – and the principle query that is still is which driver he would companion – the state of affairs is much from clear-cut. Crimson Bull is understood for making aggressive and fast calls, particularly on the subject of drivers, so till a last choice is made all choices are on the desk, together with not making any modifications in any respect. Some stability after a reasonably chaotic two years on that entrance would make sense – particularly as subsequent 12 months provides sufficient different challenges.
But, in Crimson Bull’s case, that’s nearly by no means an choice.
