Red Bull’s reputation for its merciless driver management appears to be continuing into the 2026 Formula 1 season, as reports suggest a major shake-up between the senior Red Bull Racing team and its sister outfit, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. According to insider sources, a current F1 driver is on the verge of losing his seat as Red Bull finalizes its next-generation driver lineup. The decision, while unsurprising given the team’s ruthless history, signals another round of high-stakes internal competition that could see familiar faces sidelined.
The team’s past season offered a prime example of this cold-blooded decision-making. Liam Lawson, who began the 2025 campaign alongside Max Verstappen, was abruptly dropped after only two races — replaced by Yuki Tsunoda in a surprise promotion from Racing Bulls. Yet Tsunoda’s elevation to the main squad has not yielded the results the team hoped for. His performances have been underwhelming, raising questions about whether he can meet Red Bull’s relentless standards and survive another contract cycle under the watchful eyes of Helmut Marko and Christian Horner.
Meanwhile, young French rookie Isack Hadjar has emerged as the breakout star of the junior team. His consistent displays of composure, raw speed, and adaptability have drawn Red Bull’s admiration — enough to reportedly secure him a place alongside Verstappen in 2026. If confirmed, this promotion would make Hadjar the latest product of Red Bull’s relentless driver academy to ascend into the sport’s elite circle. It also reinforces the organization’s commitment to investing in youthful, aggressive talent rather than relying solely on experience.
In parallel, British-Italian prodigy Arvid Lindblad is set to join the Racing Bulls lineup for 2026, further reshaping the team’s driver ecosystem. With Lindblad’s impending debut, both Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson now find themselves in direct competition for the single remaining seat at Racing Bulls. According to Dutch journalist Erik van Haren, both drivers are aware of the situation — though neither has clarity about their future. “They’re really stirring things up against each other now,” van Haren revealed, noting that tensions have begun to rise within the camp as each fights for survival.
The situation underscores the intensity of Red Bull’s internal politics — a culture where talent alone rarely guarantees security. As the Mexican Grand Prix approaches, the focus may be on lap times and podiums, but behind the scenes, a far more brutal race is unfolding: a battle for identity, pride, and a future in Formula 1. For Red Bull, change is business as usual. For the drivers involved, it’s a reminder that in this empire of speed, loyalty lasts only as long as the stopwatch approves.
