Hard Options: How Red Bull’s F1 driver dilemma becomes sour

As it stands, Red Bull has not yet decided how to order its formula 1 drivers – and possibly it will take a few more weeks before a press release is issued, which will nominate Max Verustapane What else in senior team in 2026 Racing bulls The pair will be. The F1 Padock for the team principal is a common habit that it is a ‘good problem’ when there are more than one candidate for the seat – this means that any option is attractive.

Excluding Verustapane from the equation, it appears that the Red Bull has four drivers for the remaining seats – yet the situation does not really fit for the “good problem” label, because no option looks particularly exciting.

As with Deadline Karghe, Helmut Marco has confirmed the decision that being “around” around Mexico GP in late October, an outline of Red Bull’s thinking has already taken shape: Padock rumor shows that Isac Hadzar One is ready for promotion. German publication Auto Motor Ant Sport Azerbaijan GP stated that the young French is ready for a step for the French senior team, which has impressed its owners in its crooks with racing bulls – and sources in Motorsport.com have confirmed that he is actually considered the best candidate for partner Verustapane in 2026. De telegraphClose to World Champion Camp.

It appears that, although no final decision has been taken, Helmut Marco and CO are close to the heads on the most uncomfortable seat of F1.

Thinking understands to some extent: Yuki Sunoda Since his promotion, a large extent has failed to distribute and only after Baku, the Japanese driver raised himself from 19th in the overall standing. The red bull driver was ahead of both for a long time. Alpine Driver, Jack dohan And Franco ColapintoWhich are still only one point that has scored a single issue this year. No more clarification is required to reach a conclusion: Tayonoda is not at all that a team is needed with the ambitions of the red bull.

Meanwhile, Hadzar gave a podium finish with racing bulls – some neither Japanese nor Liam Lawson Managed to do with senior squad, not even close.

So, while Red Bull said no decision has been taken on the goldsmith, yet the term that the word in Padock is that the Japanese racer is no longer fighting to keep the red bull seat, but eventually struggling to live completely on the grid-with still a return to the card for the team-based team.

This is not a guarantee, however, as the Red Bull is also evaluating whether Arvid Lindblad is ready to step up to F1 after its Formula 2 campaign. Junior results suggest that there is no answer, but F2 has recently become a difficult category for sound decisions, with both Oliver bearman And Andrea Kimi Antoneley Promoted to F1 despite clear conflicts in the series.

It is believed that Marko is quite confident of Lindbalad’s talent that he could not pay much attention to his challenging F2 campaign – and there is a good chance that he will still be promoted to the racing bulls next year, either Anunoda or Lasan will be left without any place.

But the one that looks like a plan is far from being a “good problem” – and close to the alleged time limit, becomes equally difficult to call, as all drivers in the equation fail to provide a clear reference point. Weekend was a prominent example in Baku.

The headjar had a specific crook weekend. Fastly throughout the time, the French made two mistakes, both in qualifying and race. The first came in his last attempt on Saturday, when he was in a lap, which could also start a front-ride-but the eight-tenth disadvantage in the last corner dropped him to the eighth place. The next day, a mistake in the same corner spent it on two positions. Forgiveness to a crook, but not ideal for anyone close to the promotion of top-team.

It was Lawson that was impressed in Baku: qualifying the third, the chaotic closing of the session was one of the very few drivers to give a good adoption in the steps, and then finished fifth in the race. It is difficult to imagine a better performance that is not laundered with F1.

At the same time, Tsunoda gave a first sample that he could offer in future red bulls. Finishing the sixth is not really a great performance, but it was one of the first weekends, which they had as materials similar to Vastapane. And even if it is not still what is necessary from a top driver, then at least starting to show signs of Tayonoda Promise.

It is in the context that can still play Lindblad’s F2 performance. Red Bull Junior scored just 30 points in the last four weekends – and the Red Bull’s decision could be very low for it on time, as the next round of the championship will be in Qatar in late November. The Anglo-Swedish driver has a good impact on the simulator, but there is no evidence that it represents a better option than other drivers. Another season in F2 will definitely not hurt.

While Padock Rumors suggests that Lindblad will still get his promotion-and the main question is which driver he will be a partner-the situation is far from clear-cut. The red bull is known to make aggressive and quick calls, especially when it comes to drivers, so all the options are on the table until a final decision is given, including no changes. On that front, some stability is understood after a chaotic instead of two years – especially providing enough other challenges next year.

Nevertheless, in the case of red bull, this is almost not an option.