Racing Bulls team chief explains delay over 2026 F1 driver line-up decision

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has shared an update on the delayed decision regarding the 2026 driver line-up. 

Four-time champion Max Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but all other seats at Red Bull and Racing Bulls are currently unconfirmed for 2026. 

Isack Hadjar is rumoured to secure the seat alongside Verstappen next year and Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad is expected to be in line for a Racing Bulls seat, leaving Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson fighting for the remaining seat on the sister team.

While an announcement was initially expected around the Mexico Grand Prix, the decision has been delayed.

“No, not at all. It’s nothing to do with the new regulations,” Permane explained. “We are in a very tight battle ourselves [for sixth], but also, Red Bull are in a very tight battle in their constructors’ championship [battle for second].

“We just want to have some stability, and that may well go on right until the end of the season. So you may not find out until Monday morning after Abu Dhabi.

“I don’t know exactly when it’ll be, but that’s the reason. It’s nothing to do with next year’s rules.”

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

He added: “You always want the experienced driver. We see with James [Vowles at Williams] and his two super-experienced drivers, they hit the ground running pretty much every weekend.

“And that’s not to take anything away from our guys, but experience always counts. Nothing beats pace, obviously. So you have to have that pace there. It will undoubtedly help for next year.

“On the other hand, you could look at it and say, well, everyone’s starting from a clean sheet of paper.

“No one has experienced these regulations. So I suspect there’ll be a huge amount of simulator work being done – it’s ongoing now – and once the season finishes, that will only ramp up. So yeah, it definitely is important.”