Tsunoda currently sits 18th in the drivers\u2019 championship<\/a>, and Red Bull have been solely relying on Max Verstappen<\/a> to score their points ever since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Sergio Perez has revealed why racing for Red Bull is so difficult<\/a>, but whether Tsunoda has the ability to turn things around is yet to be seen.<\/p>\n CategoryYuki TsunodaMax Verstappen2025 points10187Grand Prix results111Grand Prix qualifying012Grand Prix wins02Grand Prix poles04Grand Prix podiums05Best finish9th1stRetirements11Retirements (classified finish)00Fastest laps01Grand Prix points finishes311Sprint results02Sprint qualifying02Sprint wins01Sprint poles00Sprint podiums01The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen<\/p>\n There have been positive signs, especially as new team principal Laurent Mekies<\/a> has started to give Tsunoda more parity with Verstappen in terms of the parts he\u2019s using.<\/p>\n However, Red Bull need to be prepared for every eventuality, and are starting to consider their options should Tsunoda\u2019s position become untenable.<\/p>\n Red Bull have been linked with Alex Palou<\/a>, but the \u2018frontrunner\u2019 appears to be Racing Bulls<\/a> rookie Isack Hadjar<\/a>, according to journalist Luke Smith.<\/p>\n READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links<\/a><\/p>\n Smith was speaking on The Ringer F1 Podcast, and asked about Red Bull\u2019s second seat situation, he explained: \u201cI think we\u2019ve still got a good chunk of this season to go, but I think the frontrunner has to be Isack Hadjar.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that his performances this year in that Racing Bulls car have really impressed Red Bull.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that he has maybe been a bit unlucky in recent races, whereas Lawson\u2019s been able to take this step back and get back to his old self.<\/p>\n Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August \u201cFor Red Bull, it\u2019s very rare for them to go outside their own driver pool. They did that when signing Checo [Perez], I think that was the first time, I believe I\u2019m right in saying, since 2007, that they\u2019d signed a driver who wasn\u2019t part of their own set-up already.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, there are a lot of reasons why they would keep it in-house and focus on that.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw the story about Alex Palou, but that\u2019s just another unknown to throw into the mix.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be shocked if they went outside their own pool of talent.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n Red Bull \u2018really stoked\u2019 about Arvid Lindblad amid 2026 F1 race seat uncertainty<\/p>\n Another factor that Red Bull have to take into account is Formula 2 star Arvid Lindblad<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking exclusively to F1 Oversteer, Alex Jacques admitted Lindblad was a certainty to race in F1 one day<\/a>, and that time might be approaching sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n Smith continued in his assessment of Red Bull\u2019s driver decisions, and said: \u201cYou mention Arvid Lindblad, he\u2019s very exciting, a very, very good driver. I know internally, Red Bull are really stoked about what he could potentially do.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that the idea of him potentially moving up to F1 with Racing Bulls, I think that would make sense. Hadjar goes up to Red Bull itself.<\/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 \u201cTsunoda, we know that the question marks have always been there from Red Bull, and even at the end of last year, Christian Horner was kind of teasing and questioning about, well, what future would Yuki have if he didn\u2019t get the step up to Red Bull.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s done that now, and he\u2019s not really delivered what they would want.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you would imagine that Hadjar is leading that race for that seat.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Racing](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2223038767-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Andrea Diodato\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIsack Hadjar identified as Red Bull\u2019s \u2018frontrunner\u2019 to replace Yuki Tsunoda in 2026<\/p>\n
\n Friday 29th August 10:30 1st Practice Friday 29th August 14:00 2nd Practice Saturday 30th August 09:30 3rd Practice Saturday 30th August 13:00 1st Qualifying Saturday 30th August 13:25 2nd Qualifying Saturday 30th August 13:48 3rd Qualifying Sunday 31st August 13:00 Race <\/p>\n