The Japanese driver has fallen to 19th in the drivers\u2019 championship<\/a>, despite scoring two points at the Dutch Grand Prix<\/a>.<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar is the frontrunner to replace Tsunoda<\/a>, but there\u2019s further uncertainty bubbling away on the other side of the garage.<\/p>\n TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN\/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN\/AN\/ARacing BullsN\/AN\/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN\/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers<\/p>\n Max Verstappen<\/a> confirmed he would be racing for Red Bull in 2026 after months of speculation linking him away from the team.<\/p>\n Mercedes were keen to sign Verstappen<\/a>, while Aston Martin were sniffing around ahead of the sport\u2019s upcoming regulation changes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Red Bull will be well aware that they can\u2019t afford not to build a car capable of challenging for a championship next year, otherwise the Dutchman will be forced to consider his options.<\/p>\n Former Williams<\/a> and McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya<\/a> has been assessing Red Bull\u2019s options beyond 2026 in case Verstappen decides to leave.<\/p>\n He thinks Mekies\u2019 team simply have to \u2018force\u2019 a move for Carlos Sainz<\/a> to bring him back into the fold if Verstappen does move on.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Best moments of Carlos Sainz\u2019s F1 career including first pole, podium, win, title and more<\/a><\/p>\n Montoya was speaking on the MontoyAS Podcast about the driver situation at Red Bull, and he explained: \u201cSo, if Yuki is not there next year, you can stay with the structure you have and move up Hadjar.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, tell me, let\u2019s move up Hadjar. Hadjar is going OK, Lawson is going well, and then you move up Lindblad, and, at the end of the year, when Max leaves, who do you bring up?<\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to partner Lindblad and Hadjar or Lawson and Hadjar to replace Max?<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, they could be very good; they\u2019re very, very good drivers, but you have to find someone with experience to replace him.<\/p>\n Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 309 2 275 3 205 4 184 5 151 6 109 7 64 8 64 9 37 10 37 <\/p>\n \u201cRight now, they have two inexperienced drivers, and if Max leaves, there will be three drivers with no experience.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, who do you hire? You have to bring in Carlos Sainz; you have to try and force Carlos to leave Williams.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, if Williams are competitive next year, why would Carlos leave? If you ask me, that would be one of the best moves Red Bull could make.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links<\/a><\/p>\n Ferrari not considering Carlos Sainz return amid Lewis Hamilton struggles and slow Williams start<\/p>\n Williams appeared to have pulled off a coup by signing Sainz following his Ferrari exit.<\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2232561847-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Gabriele Lanzo \u2013 Alessio Morgese\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJuan Pablo Montoya tells Red Bull to \u2018force\u2019 move for Carlos Sainz if Max Verstappen leaves<\/p>\n
![\"Carlos](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2209457631-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n