With Max Verstappen now set to stay with Red Bull, attention has turned to who will be lining up alongside him in 2026.
Speculation had been building over Verstappen’s future after rumours surfaced suggesting he might trigger performance-related clauses in his deal. But he put those questions to rest before the summer break by confirming his commitment.
Although his contract runs through 2028, it contains specific requirements – such as maintaining a top-three standing in the championship – that must be met for it to remain valid.
The overhaul of F1’s regulations in 2026 adds another layer of uncertainty. While all teams will be adjusting, there have been reports that Red Bull are already facing some early challenges, which could become a concern for Verstappen and his team further down the line.
Red Bull still have not announced who will fill the second seat next year, and F1 pundit Jeroen Bleekemolen recently weighed in on the situation through his latest column for Formule1.nl.
Jeroen Bleekemolen suggests Red Bull pair Max Verstappen with Isack Hadjar
Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar are the three drivers in the frame to partner Verstappen at Red Bull next season.
Hadjar is currently the highest-ranked of the trio and also claimed his first F1 podium this year at Zandvoort while racing for Racing Bulls.
That debut podium only added to an impressive rookie campaign for Hadjar, and Bleekemolen believes he has already shown enough to justify a move to Red Bull.
| Driver | Wins | Points | Podiums |
| Max Verstappen | 2 | 205 | 6 |
| Isack Hadjar | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Liam Lawson | 0 | 20 | 0 |
“When you look purely at Hadjar’s qualities as a driver and you put that off against Yuki Tsunoda, Max’s current teammate at Red Bull, then I personally think Hadjar is the best option for Red Bull,” he explained. “Yes, he has less experience than Tsunoda, but he does have more [talent] in his locker.”
“Ok the name of Alex Palou has of course already fallen in this context as a candidate for the second seat next to Max. And I would also find that quite interesting because Palou is a boy who I think has a lot of talent.”
Isack Hadjar’s Zandvoort podium earns praise
Hadjar’s podium at Zandvoort was a sign of his progress, especially after crashing out on the formation lap in the first race of the season.
Lewis Hamilton praised him on social media, and Helmut Marko spoke highly of his performance after the race as well.
Alex Brundle pointed out that Hadjar has matured since his Formula 2 days, when he was often criticised for sounding panicked over team radio. There were concerns he might carry those habits into F1, but that has not been the case so far.
Hadjar stands out this season as the sole driver, apart from Verstappen, to achieve a podium finish in a Red Bull car. He has consistently scored points, a feat neither Tsunoda nor Lawson have accomplished yet.
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