Follow us on Google Discover The Formula 1 driver market has been a topic bubbling away in the background this season, rather than being at the forefront of everyone’s attention like it was last year.
Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has provided the biggest talking point this year, but once he confirmed he wouldn’t be acting on the interest from the likes of Mercedes or Aston Martin, every driver confirmed for 2026 so far has stayed exactly where they are right now.
There are a quartet of seats waiting to be filled ahead of next season, three within the Red Bull roster, and the seat alongside Pierre Gasly at Alpine.
Franco Colapinto has a good chance of being retained, although his late overtake on Gasly at the United States Grand Prix against the team’s orders might not have done him any favours.
TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesGeorge RussellKimi AntonelliRacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
Isack Hadjar is expected to partner Verstappen at Red Bull next year, leaving Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson fighting for their futures.
The pair could end up as teammates once again at Racing Bulls in 2026, but the looming threat of F2 star Arvid Lindblad is complicating matters.
Lindblad’s form is creating an issue for Red Bull, but Ralf Schumacher and journalist Peter Hardenacke believe that it’s Tsunoda who looks like he’s coming to the end of the line this year.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesRalf Schumacher thinks it’s ‘game over’ for Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career
Providing some background on the situation on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, Hardenacke explained: “After the Mexican Grand Prix, Dr Helmut Marko said once again that there will be a decision regarding the driver market.
“Who will sit next to Max Verstappen? What will happen at Racing Bulls now with what we have seen in the last few days and weeks, right?
“Well, I also saw Tsunoda’s team, including Yuki, whose father was there, in lengthy conversations with Dr Helmut Marko. They were sitting in the hospitality area because
Yuki, it has to be said, is still on a rollercoaster ride.
“The question is, is that enough, especially if the decision is to be made now in Mexico?
“That’s early, isn’t it? Otherwise, I would say that they would probably give him until the end of the season, but if it’s going to happen now, it’s not very convincing.”
RANKDRIVERTEAMPOINTS1Max VerstappenRed Bull252Lando NorrisMcLaren183Charles LeclercFerrari154Lewis HamiltonFerrari125Oscar PiastriMcLaren106George RussellMercedes87Yuki TsunodaRed Bull68Nico HulkenbergSauber49Oliver BearmanHaas210Fernando AlonsoAston Martin12025 United States Grand Prix result
Schumacher replied: “Yes, from my point of view, the decision has already been made, but of course they like to give the driver this, shall we say, motivation, inspiration, that there is still a possibility, but I think it’s game over, right?
“What’s the point of sticking with it now? Max is so much faster, and you could say, yes, he will always be faster than any of his teammates, but he has to have at least one who is a little closer to him in the car, and it’s not enough if he’s only seventh when his teammate wins.
“It’s all about the world championship, isn’t it, the constructors’ championship, not just Max’s world championship.”
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Could Yuki Tsunoda save his Formula 1 career if he leaves Red Bull after 2025?
Tsunoda has been on a rolling one-year contract ever since he made his Formula 1 debut in 2021.
He earned a contract extension by the time the paddock reached Canada last year, a reward for his brilliant form at the beginning of last season.
However, the Japanese driver’s struggles alongside Verstappen have forced Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies to delay any decision, with Tsunoda set to learn his fate after the Mexico City Grand Prix.
CategoryYuki TsunodaMax Verstappen2025 points28306Grand Prix results116Grand Prix qualifying017Grand Prix wins05Grand Prix poles07Grand Prix podiums010Best finish6th1stRetirements11Fastest laps02Grand Prix points finishes618Sprint results03Sprint qualifying03Sprint wins02Sprint poles01Sprint podiums02The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen
*Tsunoda scored three of his points for Racing Bulls before replacing Lawson
*Verstappen scored 36 of his points before Tsunoda joined Red Bull
There have previously been suggestions that Gasly would like to partner with Tsunoda at Alpine next season, but that looks increasingly unlikely.
The 25-year-old’s ties with Honda have loosened this season, meaning a move to Aston Martin, even as a reserve driver, no longer looks like a nailed-on back-up option.
Tsunoda won’t be the first or the last driver to leave Formula 1 after coming up against Verstappen as his teammate, but a lack of pre-season testing in the car put him on the back foot, and he’s never been able to truly recover.