Red Bull’s Second Seat Dilemma: Racing Bulls CEO Urges Team to Keep Rising Star
Amidst the whirlwind of uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s driver lineup, the team’s second seat predicament has caught the attention of F1 enthusiasts worldwide. With Max Verstappen leading the charge and clinching four world titles for the team, the revolving door at the second seat has left fans and experts alike questioning Red Bull’s strategic choices.
In the past year alone, Red Bull has cycled through three drivers – Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda – none of whom managed to secure a second-place finish behind Verstappen. Tsunoda, the most recent addition to the roster, has only amassed a mere seven points during his Red Bull tenure, paling in comparison to Racing Bulls’ driver Isack Hadjar, who sits above him in the standings with 21 points this season.
The buzz around Hadjar’s remarkable performance in 2025 has sparked speculations about his potential promotion to Red Bull. Racing Bulls CEO, Peter Bayer, has passionately implored the main team to allow Hadjar to flourish within their ranks, stating, “For heaven’s sake, don’t take this talent away from us too soon. Let him get to know the whole business until the end of 2026. Until then, we’ll just have to handcuff him!”
The debate rages on – should Hadjar be the one to fill Red Bull’s coveted second seat? Despite having only participated in 10 F1 rounds thus far, Red Bull has expressed a desire to retain Tsunoda until the season’s end to maintain some semblance of stability in their driver lineup. Tsunoda’s recent struggles, exemplified by a lackluster P16 finish at the Canadian GP following a grid penalty, have raised questions about his long-term suitability for the team.
However, Hadjar isn’t the sole young prodigy on Red Bull’s radar. F2 standout Arvid Lindblad has also captured the team’s attention, adding another layer of intrigue to Red Bull’s future driver decisions. As the saga unfolds, all eyes remain fixed on Red Bull’s pivotal choice for the elusive second seat, a decision that could potentially reshape the landscape of F1 racing as we know it.
