Drivers under contract at Red Bull are under almost constant pressure to perform. The number of drivers to come and go from Red Bull’s second team (Racing Bulls) since 2023 is fresh evidence for this claim.
For different reasons, Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar could find themselves out of Red Bull by the end of 2025.
Christian Horner’s team are already preparing one of their top junior talents to enter Formula 1.
Why Tsunoda and Hadjar can’t get comfortable
Since Pierre Gasly’s move to Alpine, RB have seen numerous drivers try – and fail – to audition for a Red Bull seat.
Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo were initially both tipped as strong options to become teammates to Max Verstappen.
Unfortunately for both drivers, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko deemed their results at the sister team inadequate.
De Vries didn’t even last half a season before Red Bull ran out of patience. Meanwhile, Ricciardo lasted little more than a season before Liam Lawson replaced him.
Crucially, both drivers were given opportunities at a time when Red Bull were unconvinced by their junior drivers.
The likes of Dennis Hauger, Jak Crawford and Enzo Fittipaldi did not do enough in Formula 2 to convince Red Bull they deserved a chance in Formula 1.
It was because of this that Christian Horner’s squad turned to Ricciardo and De Vries to fill the second team. Both drivers were wild cards – but still deemed better options than Red Bull’s academy drivers.
Still, Red Bull’s shortage of options did not stop them from making abrupt mid-season changes.
With Yuki Tsunoda as a reliable (and often overlooked) benchmark, the Milton Keynes outfit continued to evaluate their options.
This approach, this willingness to pull the trigger, is why both Tsunoda and Hadjar will be under the microscope in 2025.
A lot of unknowns at Red Bull
As Tsunoda enters a fifth season at Red Bull’s second team, his long-term prospects are understandably in doubt.
With Christian Horner showing little interest in promoting his – despite strong performances against various teammates – his chances of ever joining Red Bull seem slim.
Should an opening elsewhere on the grid present itself, Tsunoda certainly couldn’t be blamed for taking it.
Still, with limited options in the market, the Japanese driver might be content to stay at RB until 2026 – when most drivers will be on expiring contracts and there will be better opportunities.
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On the opposite side of the garage, Isack Hadjar must hold his own against Tsunoda in his rookie season.
Considering that more experienced names have been outperformed by the 24-year-old, Hadjar will be tested immediately.
Whether Red Bull see Tsunoda or Hadjar as a more important asset for 2026 and beyond, there is already someone lined up to replace either of them – Arvid Lindblad.
The 17-year-old is rated extremely highly at Red Bull, in a similar way to how Mercedes see Kimi Antonelli.
Why Red Bull put their faith in Lindblad
Here are some of Helmut Marko’s thoughts Lindblad, which he gave to the Inside Line F1 podcast:
“It’s a great pleasure and enjoyment to work with Max, but Max won’t drive forever…
“The junior team is [meant] to find new talents, and we are not looking for a new Max. We are looking for a new champion.
“I think the next one which looks really promising is Arvid Lindblad.
“And in his first year, or always in Formula 4, even if he didn’t win the championship, the same applies to F3.
“He could have won the championship, but circumstances and so on [prevented him]. But what is making him outstanding, is his pure speed.”
Lindblad recently won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. Red Bull sent him to this series so he could reach 40 Super License points – making him eligible to race in F1.
Lindblad will almost certainly complete in Free Practice sessions later this year, as Red Bull prepare him for F1.
Both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are very excited about Lindblad’s potential. The fact they both agree on the 17-year-old’s potential speaks volumes.
Assuming he performs well in Formula 2, Lindblad is perfectly positioned to join RB in 2026.
