Isack Hadjar Proposes Early Red Bull Debut, Tsunoda's Future Uncertain

Isack Hadjar, enjoying a strong rookie F1 season with Racing Bulls, believes an early promotion to the Red Bull senior team for the final races of F1 2025 would be beneficial for his F1 2026 preparations. This proposal comes amidst increasing speculation about Yuki Tsunoda's future, whose current Red Bull contract aligns with Honda's departure from the team at the end of the season.

Why it matters:

• The potential early swap of Hadjar for Tsunoda highlights Red Bull's strategic planning for F1 2026, aiming to integrate promising talent effectively.
• Tsunoda's struggles this season, coupled with Honda's exit as Red Bull's power unit supplier, place his future with the team in jeopardy.
• Hadjar's impressive debut season and his explicit desire to race for Red Bull Racing underscore his ambition and the team's internal talent pipeline.

The Details:

• Hadjar has had an impressive debut season with Racing Bulls in F1 2025, securing his first podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.
• He is considered a strong candidate for a promotion to Red Bull's senior team as Max Verstappen's teammate for the F1 2026 season.
• Tsunoda's Performance: Since replacing Liam Lawson, Tsunoda has struggled, scoring points in only four of 16 appearances.
• Honda's Influence: Honda, a long-term backer of Tsunoda, is concluding its partnership with Red Bull at the end of this season.
  • Honda reportedly played a key role in Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull and a premature departure could incur significant financial penalties for Red Bull.
• Hadjar's Stance: Hadjar expressed openness to replacing Tsunoda for the final three races of 2025 to familiarize himself with the team, although he acknowledged the new F1 2026 regulations might make it 'pointless in a way' regarding car preparation.
• Team Communications: Hadjar confirmed he has communicated his preference to race for Red Bull Racing, a goal he has held since joining the Red Bull program.

What's next:

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko indicated a decision on the F1 2026 driver lineup would be made after the Mexican Grand Prix. While Hadjar's focus remains on his current performance, the looming decision could see significant changes.

• Tsunoda's Alternatives: Tsunoda has been linked to a reserve driver role with Aston Martin for F1 2026, a team set to partner with Honda.
• Aston Martin's Response: Aston Martin stated their race drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, are contracted until the end of 2026, with further announcements on the wider driving squad to follow.
• Financial Implications: The high cost of dropping Tsunoda early due to his Honda backing makes an immediate swap seem unlikely for the current season's end.

These developments highlight the intricate dynamics of driver contracts, team strategies, and sponsor relationships in Formula 1 as teams look ahead to the significant regulation changes in F1 2026.