Red Bull’s second driver situation for 2025 is looking more and more like a familiar story, one that really started when Daniel Ricciardo left in 2018.
Yuki Tsunoda is going through one of the roughest Red Bull campaigns in recent memory. His numbers are as bad as anything the team has seen since they became a regular contender. To be fair, even Max Verstappen has said the car is not easy to handle this year.
Isack Hadjar, despite a strong start, has gone five races without points and sits 13th, raising doubts about his race-day performance as a frontrunner for Tsunoda’s seat.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | PTS |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 187 |
| 2 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 22 |
| 3 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 20 |
| 4 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 10 |
Liam Lawson, who was dropped by Red Bull earlier this year, has started to put things together recently. He has picked up 18 points over the last seven races – or 14 in just five – but most people around the paddock feel he had his shot already.
Chalerm Yoovidhya is interested in Alex Albon’s return to Red Bull
With none of the three main candidates standing out, Red Bull are considering looking beyond their current pool. Chalerm Yoovidhya, who holds a 49% stake in the team, has made his preference known.
He is reportedly keen on bringing Alex Albon back to Milton Keynes. Albon came through the Red Bull academy and made his debut with Toro Rosso in 2019 before stepping up to the main team later that year.
Pierre Gasly’s struggles opened the door for him, but Albon did not manage to secure his place long-term and was released by Christian Horner at the end of 2020.
Albon has a good relationship with Yoovidhya but does not appear interested in returning. He is said to have full belief in Williams after they brought him back into F1 in 2022.
Even if Red Bull were to make an offer, those familiar with the situation do not expect it would change his mind.
Alex Albon’s view on Max Verstappen five years after leaving Red Bull
Albon entered the summer break eighth in the championship, just 10 points behind Kimi Antonelli, making him the best outside the top-four teams.
He leads four-time Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz 17-9 in competitive sessions, having awaited this chance to prove himself.
The Thai driver and Max Verstappen have a good relationship, and Albon recently called him ‘the most misunderstood driver on the grid’.
Even with Tsunoda struggling, Albon feels his experience would help him adapt to Red Bull’s current car issues if he were to return.
But Yoovidhya will be up against it if Williams are right about their chances of contending for wins as soon as 2027. And with major rule changes coming next year, there’s no certainty that Red Bull will still be ahead.
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