Red Bull Racing is poised to announce its driver pairing for the 2026 Formula 1 season today, with Yuki Tsunoda's future at the team hanging in the balance. The announcement comes just days before the championship-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen will attempt to overturn a 12-point deficit to snatch the title from McLaren's Lando Norris.
Hadjar Poised for Promotion as Tsunoda Faces Axe
The big story from the Milton Keynes squad is the expected promotion of 21-year-old Isack Hadjar from sister team Racing Bulls. The French rookie has impressed in his debut season, currently sitting tenth in the drivers' standings with 51 points. His anticipated move to the senior team would see him partner the reigning world champion, Verstappen, in what is often described as one of the sport's most pressurised seats.
This development places current driver Yuki Tsunoda's position under severe threat. The Japanese driver has scored 33 points so far this season. The official confirmation of the 2026 line-up is expected imminently, reshaping the grid for the new regulatory era.
Red Bull Apologises After Antonelli Abuse Storm
The driver announcement follows a turbulent period for Red Bull, who were forced to issue a public statement on Monday regarding comments made about Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. During and after the Qatar Grand Prix, comments from Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase and advisor Helmut Marko insinuated that Antonelli had deliberately let Lando Norris past in the closing laps.
This incident handed Norris two crucial extra points in the title fight. Red Bull's statement expressed regret, noting that the comments were "clearly incorrect" and that replay footage showed Antonelli simply made a driving error. Mercedes reported that the 19-year-old Italian subsequently received over a thousand abusive messages online, including death threats. Team principal Toto Wolff condemned the criticism as "brainless".
Title Showdown Set for Abu Dhabi Climax
All eyes now turn to the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit. Lando Norris leads the championship by 12 points from Verstappen, with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri a further four points back in third. The mathematics is clear: if Norris finishes third or higher, he will be crowned world champion for the first time.
Norris arrives in Abu Dhabi frustrated after a team strategy error cost him in Qatar, stating the team "didn't make the right decision". Conversely, Verstappen projects a relaxed demeanour, claiming the pressure is off as he has "had an amazing season" regardless of the outcome. The Dutchman needs to outscore Norris by at least 13 points to claim a fifth world title.
Meanwhile, McLaren has already secured the 2025 Constructors' Championship with a dominant 800 points, leaving Mercedes (459) and Red Bull (426) trailing in their wake.
