Red Bull Racing announced major changes for the 2026 season, placing 21-year-old Isack Hadjar alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen. Moreover, this decision reflects the team’s ongoing struggle to find a consistent partner for their star driver.
The New Driver Lineup
The Milton Keynes team revealed its complete 2026 arrangement in early December:
| Position | Driver | Previous Role |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen | Current champion |
| Red Bull Racing | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls driver |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson | Brief Red Bull stint (2 races) |
| Racing Bulls | Arvid Lindblad | Red Bull junior |
| Reserve Driver | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls regular |
Interestingly, Lawson replaced Sergio Perez at Red Bull for 2025 but moved back to Racing Bulls after just two weekends. Subsequently, Tsunoda took his place before transitioning to a reserve role.
Hadjar’s Aggressive Style Fits Red Bull
Former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve praised Hadjar’s racing attitude on the High Performance podcast. “Hadjar was hit and miss,” Villeneuve observed. “Some races were ‘Wow, where did that come from?’ Then some races where he was behind Lawson.”
Furthermore, Villeneuve believes Hadjar’s aggressive approach matches Red Bull’s philosophy perfectly. “It’s a very Red Bull way now. Very aggressive,” he explained. “With his attitude, it works well.”
Meanwhile, Hadjar remains excited about the opportunity. “It’s a very good moment in my career,” he stated during the Abu Dhabi press conference. Additionally, the 2026 regulation changes create equal starting conditions for everyone.
The Critical Question: Which Championship Matters More?
However, Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok highlighted a crucial philosophical decision Red Bull Racing must make. Specifically, should they chase the drivers’ championship or the constructors’ title?
The 2025 Reality Check:
- Verstappen finished just 2 points behind Lando Norris in drivers’ standings
- Red Bull fell far behind in constructors’ championship
- McLaren struggled with managing two competitive drivers
Consequently, Chandhok argues the team needs clarity. “Are they chasing the constructors’ championship? In which case, they’ve got to find a way to develop a car that two drivers can drive,” he explained.
Alternatively, Red Bull could focus entirely on Verstappen’s drivers’ title, avoiding McLaren’s intra-team battle problems. “Are they thinking of the prestige that goes with the drivers’ world championship?” Chandhok questioned.
What Verstappen Expects
Verstappen emphasizes the importance of clear driver hierarchy. Moreover, he believes McLaren’s lack of defined number one and two drivers cost them opportunities in 2025. Therefore, a structured approach allows drivers to be more aggressive and focused on winning.
Hadjar’s Approach
Rather than directly competing with Verstappen immediately, Hadjar plans to learn from the champion. “I have no expectations at all, because everyone starts from scratch,” he said. Furthermore, he looks forward to studying Verstappen’s telemetry data for personal growth.
The success of Red Bull Racing in 2026 depends heavily on how they balance supporting Verstappen’s championship quest while developing Hadjar into a consistent point-scorer who can help secure constructors’ points.
