Red Bull are primarily focused on internal candidates as they decide on their 2026 F1 driver line-ups. But they’re not ruling out dipping into the market.
Isack Hadjar is expected to partner Max Verstappen at Laurent Mekies’ team, forming an exciting line-up for next year. The driver many regard as the best on the grid will partner with perhaps the standout rookie of the year.
But the picture at Racing Bulls is less rosy. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson could reunite, an outcome that may not satisfy Helmut Marko given that neither driver has met expectations when given a chance at the top team.
DRIVERSYEARSRACESVER and TSU2025 (ongoing)15VER and LAW20252VER and PER2021-2490VER and ALB2019-2026VER and GAS201912Red Bull’s last five F1 driver line-ups
There are some reservations over Arvid Lindblad, who has been a little inconsistent as a Formula 2 rookie. Combine this with the uncertainty over Max Verstappen’s future, and one can understand why Red Bull are eyeing external candidates.
Chalerm Yoovidhya could give Alex Albon a ‘major payday’ at Red Bull
On Monday, Motorsport Italia revealed that Red Bull have resumed talks with Alex Albon. While unlikely, a 2026 transfer isn’t impossible.
Albon is under contract at Williams until the end of 2027, having signed an extension last year. But the same outlet say that high-profile Red Bull shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya could ‘facilitate financial compensation’.
Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images
Yoovidhya has been leading the push to sign Albon, his fellow Thai. The two-time podium-finisher made his debut for Toro Rosso in 2019 before a swift promotion to Red Bull.
For all the buzz, Hadjar was ‘highly resistant’ to joining Red Bull until recently, which leaves lingering questions over his readiness.
Albon only survived alongside Verstappen for 18 months and dropped off the grid when Sergio Perez arrived. While he’s flourished at Williams since 2022, there’s a temptation to earn a ‘major payday’ by making a comeback.
Where does Alex Albon stand on going back to Red Bull?
It was reported in August that Albon has ‘little interest’ in returning to Red Bull. As Motorsport IT explain, taking on Verstappen has been the most punishing job in F1 in recent years.
What’s more, swapping Williams for Red Bull would be riskier than it has been in recent years. James Vowles’ squad will be powered by the highly-rated Mercedes engine, while Mekies is overseeing Red Bull’s first in-house power unit.
Guenther Steiner says Albon has been ‘fiery’ over the radio at times, impatient at operational mistakes from Williams. But he’s frustrated because he knows how strong the team, who have leapt up to fifth in the standings this year, can be.
Albon has been giving Tsunoda advice, claiming that he now understands why his time at Red Bull was a failure. A second stint at Milton Keynes would put his theory to the test.