Laurent Mekies plays down latest 2026 Red Bull rumours, avoids Arvid Lindblad questioning

Red Bull team chief Laurent Mekies has addressed the latest rumours about the team’s 2026 driver line-up, reaffirming that the Milton Keynes outfit is in no rush to decide who will partner Max Verstappen next year. 

Recent reports have stated that Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar will secure the coveted seat alongside the four-time Formula 1 champion, and Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad will sign with Racing Bulls. The remaining seat at Racing Bulls will then go to either Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda. 

“You know, we said it. We said it again and again. We don’t feel in a rush,” Mekies explained to Sky Sports F1 in Baku when asked about the rumours, which indicated that an announcement could come as soon as the Singapore Grand Prix.
 
“Because why would we be in a rush? No, our drivers are under contract with us. We have all the cars we are trying to give them the best possible conditions for them to make progress.
 
“We know Yuki needs that time and to show his progress. And we try to give him as much of the time as we can.”

When quizzed on the possibility of Lindblad entering his rookie season with the Red Bull sister team next year, Mekies said, “I don’t think it’s for Red Bull Racing. So no, it’s a question for Helmut [Marko].”

Helmut Marko had previously explained that the Japanese driver, who stepped into the second Red Bull seat ahead of his home race at Suzuka this year, will be given until ‘around Mexico’ to prove himself for the 2026 contract.

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Laurent Mekies, Alpine

Photo by: Mark Thompson – Getty Images

Tsunoda dismissed the rumours ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. 

“I think it’s the same as what I said previously. I heard today that there was a lot of speculation, but I was not really watching the media pay attention. What I understood is that there’s a tough one.

“I’ll just keep doing the things that I’m doing so far and keep focusing on performance. I just show the progress of the races. That’s it. My main priority is to stay here. That’s it.”

While Verstappen sits third in the drivers’ standings, having scored 230 of Red Bull’s 239 points, Tsunoda is in 19th with 12 points (nine of which were with Red Bull). In comparison, Hadjar’s third-place finish in the Dutch Grand Prix added to an impressive rookie season so far. He is ninth in the standings with 38 points, and his team-mate Lawson is 15th with 20 points. 

Photos from Azerbaijan GP – Practice and Qualifying