Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
16h ago

Red Bull Delays Call on Tsunoda’s 2026 Seat to September or October

The team will continue race-by-race evaluation under equal-spec conditions to gauge Tsunoda against Verstappen.

Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko speaks with Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium.

Overview

  • Helmut Marko said Red Bull has extended its options and now plans a decision in September or October after observing a few more races.
  • Team principal Laurent Mekies stated the outfit is not in a hurry and will assess both Tsunoda and its junior drivers before settling the second seat.
  • Marko reiterated that Tsunoda must consistently close the gap to Max Verstappen, with reporting indicating the Mexican Grand Prix as a performance cut-off for his case.
  • Motorsport.com reporting, cited by Newsweek, says Mekies pushed for equal-spec parts for Tsunoda, including a new Spa floor, to enable a fair comparison.
  • Speculation linking IndyCar champion Alex Palou was denied by the driver, his management, and Chip Ganassi Racing, while Marko said potential replacements are being weighed alongside the final lineup decision.